Shohei Ohtani Named AP Male Athlete of the Year, Signs Record-Breaking Contract with Dodgers

Ohtani's unparalleled performance in 2023 and his worldwide fame make him a lucrative investment for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani, a baseball player known for his two-way skills, has been named the Associated Press' Male Athlete of the Year for the second time in three years.
Ohtani, who played for the Los Angeles Angels and Japan's team in the World Baseball Classic in 2023, recently signed a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $700 million, the most lucrative contract in professional sports history.
Ohtani's 2023 season was marked by his dazzling performance for Japan's championship team in the World Baseball Classic and his third consecutive spectacular season both on the mound and at the plate in Anaheim.
Despite an injury to his pitching elbow in August, Ohtani led the American League with 44 homers, 78 extra-base hits, 325 total bases, and a 1.066 OPS as the Angels' designated hitter.
Ohtani's signing with the Dodgers is seen as a significant investment in his worldwide fame, which generates revenue no other baseball player can touch.