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New York Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Shohei Ohtani returns to the mound with something to prove: Can he still be a two-way superstar?
Cramped inside his luxury suite at Angels Stadium after inviting in a throng of reporters, Nez Balelo, the agent for Shohei Ohtani, spoke with the panicked confidence of a man praying everything he said about his then-pending-free-agent-client was true. This was Sept. 4, 2023 — twelve days after Ohtani threw his last big league pitch on Aug. 23, and nearly 21 months before he'd throw another. Advertisement He pleaded with the media, there to ask about the injured superstar. 'He's going to be fine,' Balelo said, without the question even being asked. 'Make sure you share that. Make sure you get that out.' All these months later, it's time to find out just how prophetic Balelo's words will be. The day has finally come, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced on Sunday that Ohtani will start, as a pitcher, on Monday at home against the division-rival Padres. In the nearly two years since that moment, Ohtani signed a $700 million contract, won a World Series and took home his third MVP. So, yes, as Balelo said, Ohtani is doing just fine. But for Ohtani, fine is measured on a different scale. What the agent was talking about then, and what has been an underlying uncomfortable question since, is what Ohtani's return as a pitcher will actually look like. Whether he can match the two-way prowess that shot him into global superstardom. If he can once again be a truly great starter. This was Ohtani's second shoulder surgery, and his 31st birthday looms in less than three weeks. The Dodgers know they have one of the game's all-time power hitters atop their lineup, who doubles as an international sensation that brings adoring fans and sponsors to enrich their franchise financially. But his future as a pitcher, and thus as a unicorn two-way superstar hangs in the balance right now. When healthy, Ohtani's proven to one of the game's best pitchers. His career 3.01 ERA, 142 ERA+, 1.082 WHIP and 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings are irrefutable evidence of that. He has a fastball that sits above 94 miles per hour, and can regularly eclipse 100 on the radar gun. His arsenal includes numerous options — a sweeper, cutter, splitter, sinker and curveball all available to him at any time. Pitching isn't just an addition to Ohtani's game, it's a co-equal element that defines his greatness. If Ohtani's injury proved anything, though, it's that even the most invincible of athletes are not immune to ailments or their debilitating consequences. Father Time is undefeated, but the Dodgers and Ohtani's right arm pray he can still be staved off for the next eight and a half seasons. When the Dodgers signed Ohtani, the $700 million commitment came with an implied expectation he'd contribute on both the mound and at the plate. That need has only escalated this season, as Los Angeles has a roster full of starting pitchers on the injured list. Tyler Glasnow hasn't pitched since April 28, and won't be eligible to return for a few weeks. Blake Snell, out since April 6, only recently started throwing bullpens. Roki Sasaki is out indefinitely. Same with Tony Gonsolin, Gavin Stone and a host of other pitchers. Advertisement Ohtani initially wasn't planning to pitch again until later this season — the belief had broadly been that his return would come after the All-Star break, as the Dodgers aired on the side of extreme caution with an eye toward the postseason. He came back quicker than expected, because that's what he wanted. With his return comes the weight of a beleaguered rotation on his shoulders. 'The live, simulated, or whatever, sort of ran its course,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Sunday. '… A week ago, we were talking about another live (batting practice). But the conversations, the confidence that he has, it's time to go.' It's easy to look at Ohtani with a mythical gaze, and let what makes him special capture your imagination. That's the type of aura he's always had while playing this game. The adjectives that describe him are universally positive, and for good reason. But for the last two years, he could not be described as a two-way player. And as of right now, he isn't a two-way player. He's been an elite designated hitter, with a speed element that sets him apart from even Hall of Fame-level performers like David Ortiz and Edgar Martinez. He remains special. But even through that lens, special is not once-in-a-lifetime, that mix of excellence in all facets of the game that nobody in a century has matched. For all that Ohtani has accomplished, he still has something left to prove. That he can earn back that desired title. It's an identity he's held before, and those that know him, understand just how important it is for him to keep it. The talking heads who say he should pick one or the other fundamentally don't understand Ohtani's makeup. Attaining that status once again will require more than just one or two good starts — it needs to be sustained over the long term. We'd be saying that about any player that's his age with his injury history. His unicorn status doesn't make him exempt from that requirement. Advertisement 'I'm just telling you right now that Shohei — There's not a question in his mind that he's going to come back and he's going to continue to do both,' Balelo said that day. That has proven true. He is doing both once again. The more important matter at hand, however, is how good and durable he can be over the many, many years he still has left to play.
National Post
02-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Shohei Ohtani left Blue Jays complex wearing Toronto gear after secret meeting in 2023
Following the 2023 MLB season, the Toronto Blue Jays embarked on a wild chase to try to land the biggest international star the sport has ever seen: Shohei Ohtani. Article content Article content And the team must've been feeling understandably good about their chances of signing the Japanese sensation considering he walked out of their training complex wearing a Jays hat with a bag full of team gear. Article content The secretive meeting between Ohtani and the Jays down in Dunedin has been detailed in the coming book The Franchise: Toronto Blue Jays: A Curated History of the Jays, by beat reporter Keegan Matheson. Article content According to the book and reported by the Star, Ohtani, his agent, Nez Balelo, and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara flew to Florida to visit the team's state-of-the-art training complex and meet with Jays manager John Schneider, GM Ross Atkins, president Mark Shapiro and owner Edward Rogers. Article content Article content Due to Ohtani's request to keep his free-agency meetings a secret, the entire 65-acre complex was completely closed to players and personnel that day. Article content According to Matheson, the Blue Jays told players and staff that there was a 'Rogers ownership meeting' taking place and that they needed to stay away for the day. Article content 'We're standing upstairs in the suite and (Jays senior manager of security Jason Weaving) is texting us updates. We watched him get out of the car. I'm wearing a sport coat and we're all done up. It was like royalty was coming,' Schneider told Matheson. 'There was no one in the complex. It was bare. Article content Article content Article content While by all accounts the meeting between the team brass and Ohtani went very well, there was a sight towards the end of it that had the Jays optimistic about their chances. Article content The Jays had set up three lockers in the team's clubhouse – complete with jerseys, gear, hats, bags and accessories — to show the star what he could expect should he sign with the team. Article content He walked out of the clubhouse wearing a Blue Jays hat while Mizuhara also was decked out in team gear of his own. The pair even stopped to take photos together before departing.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shohei Ohtani's agent says superstar 'wouldn't do anything different' with $700 million contract
Shohei Ohtani's reign as the athlete with the richest contract in professional sports lasted only one year. After signing a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023, Juan Soto and the New York Mets agreed to a 15-year, $765 million package approximately 365 days later. Coming off the first season of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in Major League Baseball history, Ohtani being paid less than anyone seems baffling. He still has yet to pitch for the Dodgers, coming off 2023 elbow surgery. Yet Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, told reporters on Thursday that he and his superstar client "wouldn't do anything different." The disparity between the contracts is even more stark when scrutinizing the details of the respective packages. None of Soto's money will be deferred, meaning he'll yield the full $765 million value. By contrast, Ohtani's deal includes $680 million in deferred money, reducing the actual value of the agreement to $460 million. Ohtani winning a World Series championship with the Dodgers last season and fitting in so comfortably with his teammates make up for whatever financial differences exist between his contract and Soto's, according to Balelo. 'We wouldn't do anything different," Balelo said at Thursday's Sportico's Invest West conference, via the Los Angeles Times. "He won a championship. He went to the right team. Why would we do anything different? No regrets. Nothing.' Additionally, Ohtani will earn more than $100 million in endorsements (and could get much more, if he so chose), further closing whatever gaps are apparent on paper. Balelo went on to explain that he and Ohtani felt the same way about the contract signed with the Los Angeles Angels upon leaving Japan. Ohtani likely could have gotten more money from other teams, but the Angels committed to allowing him to play as both a hitter and a pitcher. That put him in position to win two American League MVP awards and receive the contract he signed with the Dodgers, so they also have no regrets there. "It was the right place, with the group and Mike [Scioscia] and the whole team over there," Balelo added. "They gave him an opportunity. They stuck with him. He had a tough spring. It was the right home for him at the time." Free agent contracts in sports are often a matter of timing, rather than value. There are plenty of points to be made in comparison, such as Ohtani's potential two-way contributions to the Dodgers and Soto being only 26 years old. But Soto hit the open market after Ohtani set the bar, so he ended up with the larger deal. This happens throughout professional sports. Is Dak Prescott a better quarterback than Patrick Mahomes? Most would say no, and Mahomes' contract is worth much more in total value ($450 million to $240 million). But Prescott will make $60 million next season compared to Mahomes' $52.1 million. List of players with 10+ HR and 10+ SB this season:Shohei Ohtani — MLB (@MLB) May 7, 2025 According to Balelo, the Dodgers presented a vision of building a winner around him and followed through on promises beyond his contract. The money saved from the deferrals in his contract was used to sign additional players including Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow that put them in better position to win a World Series. Balelo also indicated that the contract Ohtani signed with the Dodgers might be his last one as a professional athlete. He'll be 39 years old when the 10-year deal expires and apparently has no interest in playing until his skills and condition have completely eroded. "He just didn't want to have the end of his storybook career tail off and then in Year 13, 14 and 15: 'Who is this guy? He can't even run down to first,'" Balelo said of Ohtani not pursuing a deal of 15 years or more. Fortunately, there will likely be nine more years of Ohtani for baseball fans to enjoy.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shohei Ohtani's agent says superstar 'wouldn't do anything different' with $700 million contract
Shohei Ohtani's reign as the athlete with the richest contract in professional sports lasted only one year. After signing a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023, Juan Soto and the New York Mets agreed to a 15-year, $765 million package approximately 365 days later. Coming off the first season of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in Major League Baseball history, Ohtani being paid less than anyone seems baffling. He still has yet to pitch for the Dodgers, coming off 2023 elbow surgery. Yet Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, told reporters on Thursday that he and his superstar client "wouldn't do anything different." Advertisement The disparity between the contracts is even more stark when scrutinizing the details of the respective packages. None of Soto's money will be deferred, meaning he'll yield the full $765 million value. By contrast, Ohtani's deal includes $680 million in deferred money, reducing the actual value of the agreement to $460 million. Ohtani winning a World Series championship with the Dodgers last season and fitting in so comfortably with his teammates make up for whatever financial differences exist between his contract and Soto's, according to Balelo. 'We wouldn't do anything different," Balelo said at Thursday's Sportico's Invest West conference, via the Los Angeles Times. "He won a championship. He went to the right team. Why would we do anything different? No regrets. Nothing.' Additionally, Ohtani will earn more than $100 million in endorsements (and could get much more, if he so chose), further closing whatever gaps are apparent on paper. Advertisement Balelo went on to explain that he and Ohtani felt the same way about the contract signed with the Los Angeles Angels upon leaving Japan. Ohtani likely could have gotten more money from other teams, but the Angels committed to allowing him to play as both a hitter and a pitcher. That put him in position to win two American League MVP awards and receive the contract he signed with the Dodgers, so they also have no regrets there. "It was the right place, with the group and Mike [Scioscia] and the whole team over there," Balelo added. "They gave him an opportunity. They stuck with him. He had a tough spring. It was the right home for him at the time." Free agent contracts in sports are often a matter of timing, rather than value. There are plenty of points to be made in comparison, such as Ohtani's potential two-way contributions to the Dodgers and Soto being only 26 years old. But Soto hit the open market after Ohtani set the bar, so he ended up with the larger deal. Advertisement This happens throughout professional sports. Is Dak Prescott a better quarterback than Patrick Mahomes? Most would say no, and Mahomes' contract is worth much more in total value ($450 million to $240 million). But Prescott will make $60 million next season compared to Mahomes' $52.1 million. According to Balelo, the Dodgers presented a vision of building a winner around him and followed through on promises beyond his contract. The money saved from the deferrals in his contract was used to sign additional players including Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow that put them in better position to win a World Series. Balelo also indicated that the contract Ohtani signed with the Dodgers might be his last one as a professional athlete. He'll be 39 years old when the 10-year deal expires and apparently has no interest in playing until his skills and condition have completely eroded. Advertisement "He just didn't want to have the end of his storybook career tail off and then in Year 13, 14 and 15: 'Who is this guy? He can't even run down to first,'" Balelo said of Ohtani not pursuing a deal of 15 years or more. Fortunately, there will likely be nine more years of Ohtani for baseball fans to enjoy.
Washington Post
08-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Shohei Ohtani could have landed 15-year deal, agent says, but he didn't want to risk skills decline
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani could have pursued a 15-year contract through age 44, agent Nez Balelo said Thursday, explaining the two-way superstar didn't want to risk a decline in his skills while under the big deal. Balelo pulled back the curtain that shrouds Ohtani a bit when he spoke at Sportico's Invest West conference featuring decision-makers in sports, entertainment and finance at the new Intuit Dome, home of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers.
