Dodgers Release Hype Video to Officially Welcome Shohei Ohtani to LA

Shohei is officially a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It's official Dodgers fans, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is here! The Dodgers have released a hype video to welcome him to Los Angeles.

The best in Sho. Welcome to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani!

ロサンゼルス・ドジャースへようこそ、大谷翔平！ pic.twitter.com/7wBuoKZ9ze

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 12, 2023

Ohtani and the Dodgers agreed to a 10-year, $700 million contract over the weekend that has no opt-outs in it. Ohtani will be a member of the Dodgers for the rest of his career.

LA had been planning their pursuit of Ohtani for a long time now, and it finally came to fruition. He spurned them two previous times, but the third time was the charm.

The Dodgers brought in their big prize of the offseason, creating a complete power shift around the league. Ohtani always felt destined to become a Dodger, and it made too much sense to not happen.

The pairing will be mutually beneficial, and fans across the sport will finally get to see the biggest star play on the biggest stages. LA has made the playoffs for 11 straight seasons, and there is no reason to believe that they won't make it again in 2024.

After winning 100 games this past season, the Dodgers were bounced out in embarrassing fashion in the NLDS, further fueling their desire to bring Ohtani to the team. 

His two-way abilities have never been seen before by any member of the game, and he is a once-in-a-lifetime player. He will rehab his torn UCL during the 2024 season, being strictly a hitter. But he plans to return to the mound in 2025 if all goes well in the recovery process.

The Dodgers know exactly what they are getting with Ohtani and were willing to shell out the record contract to make it happen. This team wasn't going to be denied in their pursuit of Ohtani, and this free agent signing will resonate heavily with the organization for the rest of the time.

Once again, welcome to Los Angeles Shohei!