Shohei Ohtani’s story with the Los Angeles Dodgers has just begun with a dream first season, after having signed a $700 million, 10-year deal, most of the payment deferred, because the Japanese star is willing to sacrifice immediate money in exchange for the team having the budget to have a quality roster.
The president and co-owner of the Dodgers, Stan Kasten revealed part of the conversation he had with Ohtani when they began negotiations, recalling when they lost him to the Los Angeles Angels in 2017.
“I told him, ‘Don’t make the same mistake,’ and he just laughed,” Kasten told Dodgers Nation, recalling that for the second stage there was a rumor that Ohtani was on a flight to Toronto, which at the time seemed that the Dodgers would lose him again: “That didn’t make sense to me, given what I knew about Shohei and his goals.”
Kasten highlighted what it has meant to have Ohtani, who is not only the star of the team, but also the hardest worker and one of the most popular in the locker room.
“It’s rare that your best player is the hardest worker and also the most popular,” Kasten said, adding, “And we have a couple of players like that. It’s a great time in the history of our franchise.”
Dodgers take Ohtani’s return to the mound in stride
Ohtani is in the final stages of his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery and is expected to play as a pitcher for the first time next season for the Dodgers, but Kasten knows they must take it easy, but when he is ready it will be unforgettable for the franchise.
“We’re taking the right steps, and when he’s ready, it’s going to be something special,” Kasten said of Ohtani. Although he still does not have a date for his return, the Dodgers suspended his bullpen sessions during Spring Training, and it is expected that in May he could take the mound. For now, he is ruled out to pitch in the Tokyo Series on March 18 and 19 against the Chicago Cubs, in the early Opening Day.
Read the full article here
