The Japanese two-way superstar was celebrated at Los Angeles City Hall on Friday and given a city council resolution declaring May 17 as Shohei Ohtani Day for his time with the Dodgers.
Ohtani signed a record $700 million, 10-year deal with the team in December, after spending six years with the Angels in Anaheim.
The council praised Ohtani for his sports achievements, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and members of the team’s front office present.
“Thank you very much to the L.A. City Council,” Ohtani said through a translator. “I appreciate you recognizing me on this day. I want to thank the Dodger organization as well and all the fans.”
Ohtani became the all-time leader in home runs hit by a Japanese-born player in the major leagues on April 21. Nearly a month later, he surpassed Roberts in breaking the Dodgers record for homers hit by a Japanese player. Roberts is of Japanese and Black descent.
“Since joining the Dodger family in December, Shohei has been everything we’ve hoped for and more,” team president and CEO Stan Kasten said.
“We are grateful for his accomplishments on the field, his warmth in the clubhouse, and his character in all respects, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved honor.” Ohtani’s short time with the Dodgers has been eventful, both on and off the field.
The team’s first Ohtani bobblehead giveaway of the season on Thursday caused traffic congestion outside Dodger Stadium and led to long queues of fans eager to grab the souvenir.
The bobbleheads were quickly put up for sale online at very high prices. His long-serving interpreter was dismissed by the team in March after prosecutors alleged that Ippei Mizuhara stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani to settle sports gambling debts over several years.
Mizuhara appeared in court earlier this week to plead on charges of bank and tax fraud.
