Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was honored at Los Angeles City Hall on Friday with a proclamation declaring May 17 as Shohei Ohtani Day.
Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian led the presentation and directed the Dodgers to “complete the most significant free agent acquisition probably in baseball history.”
Ohtani, 29, signed a ten-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers this offseason, making it the richest deal in American sports history.
“Thank you for providing this city with a team that our children will tell their children they had the privilege of watching,” Krekorian said.
Council members took turns welcoming Ohtani to Los Angeles and for donating his talent to the City of Angels.
KCALNews
The 29-year-old Ohtani, a native of Oshu, Japan, burst onto the American sports scene in 2018 when he hit 22 home runs in his first year with the Angels while going 4-2 with a 3.31 earned run average in 10 games. a starting pitcher. He was selected as the American League Rookie of the Year.
Ohtani spent six years with the Angels before signing with the Dodgers in December 2023.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the Los Angeles City Council, ladies and gentlemen of Los Angeles and the United States, please welcome America’s greatest baseball player, Shohei Ohtani,” Krekorian said as he introduced Ohtani to the stage.
Ohtani said he was honored and humbled by the recognition. “I would also like to really thank the Dodgers organization for their continued support, as well as the entire people of the city of LA,” Ohtani said.
