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11 months ago
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Shohei Ohtani is officially a Los Angeles Dodger, after pulling on his new uniform for the first time since signing a $700m, 10-year contract with the team.
Ohtani's move across LA from the Angels to the Dodgers stunned the world of baseball this week, and the Japanese two-way star has now been presented to the media for the first time.
After pulling on Dodger blue for the first time, Ohtani shared his reasons for picking them out of a long list of suitors, detailing that their desire to win was a huge contributing factor.
'I think the most important thing is we all have to be on the same page, we all want to win,' Ohtani said. 'And I think this team has that.'
It was revealed earlier this week that Ohtani will defer $680m of his $700m contract only picking up the majority of his money a decade from now.
Shohei Ohtani speaks to the media after being presented as a Los Angeles Dodger on Thursday
Ohtani poses for photos after donning his No. 17 uniform at a packed-out press conference
The Dodgers welcomed Ohtani to the team with a stage set up at Dodger Stadium in LA
'I was aware of the deferral structure and usually when there's a big contract in MLB, I've hear they're involved,' Ohtani said. 'I looked into it and did some calculations.'
'If I can defer as much money as a I can to help the Dodgers sign better players and make a better team, that’s why I made that choice,' Ohtani added.
At the press conference, Ohtani confirmed that he had undergone a second procedure on his elbow, but insisted it was 'different' to the first Tommy John surgery he had.
'I saw the doctor first and we had to go through a lot of steps and decide what surgery I was going to get,' Ohtani said. 'At the time of the announcement we didn’t know. That’s why I didn’t announce it.'
Ohtani said he made up his mind about joining the Dodgers Friday night, less than 24 hours before he posted his decision on Instagram.
Ohtani spoke through his friend and interpreter during his first press conference as a Dodger
Ohtani donned a blue tie in the colors of his new team after switching from the rival Angels
Media lined up around the block to get a glimpse of Ohtani in his first press conference
'There's not one reason,' Ohtani said of why he picked the Dodgers. 'I met with a few teams at the end of the negotiation process. It was really a tough decision for me. I had to choose one team and the Dodgers were my choice.'
Ohtani refused to talk about any of the other teams that were interested in signing him at multiple times during the press conference. It was reported that his former team, the Los Angeles Angels, were also heavily involved with trying to keep Ohtani.
The Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, and San Francisco Giants were among the other teams thought to have made a substantial pitch to Ohtani.
Ohtani mentioned wanting to have the best chance to win championships as a key reason why he became a Dodger.
Dodgers owner Mark Walter helps Ohtani pull on his blue uniform for the first time
The two-way superstar shakes hands with Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations
'I saw my contact is 10 years and I'm not sure how long I'm going to be able to play the game,' Ohtani said. 'So I prioritized winning and that’s one of the reasons I chose this team.
'Obviously I want to win championships and when people look back at the championships I won, I want people to remember I was a big part of those championship-winning teams.'
Ohtani said there's 'sadness' in leaving the Angels for the crosstown-rival Dodgers, but the 29-year-old is ready for the challenge.
'Going forward with the Dodgers, I feel pretty much he same I did six years ago,' Ohtani said compared to when he first played in MLB. 'I love challenges and I'm going to be facing a lot of new challenges as a Dodger and I'm ready for it.'
English (US)