Shohei Ohtani is the biggest name in baseball right now. While he had a bit of a slump in June, he is still having an MVP-caliber season for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is in the midst of a massive $700 million contract deal and is getting ready to release his signature cleat. Ohtani and New Balance shared a first look ahead of the July release.
Shohei Ohtani Shares Photo Of Signature New Balance Cleat
The signature cleat for Shohei Ohtani is nothing too wild. New Balance went with a simple design that was mostly white with some gold accents. The Los Angeles Dodgers star has an entire collection releasing with New Balance on July 15th, but this is the crown jewel. It isn’t surprising to see the league trying to lean into their biggest star. Athletes in the NBA have long been doing shoe deals to boost their brand and the league.
It helps that Shohei Ohtani is in one of the biggest markets on a contending team. When he was with the Angels, he had the market, but the organization couldn’t put a playoff team on the field. Now, it is all but guaranteed we will see the Dodgers and Ohtani in the postseason. Los Angeles is one of the favorites to win the World Series thanks to a star-studded roster. It will be interesting to see what the sales look like when July 15th rolls around.
Not Reaching Full Potential
Shohei Ohtani has been mashing the ball. He is hitting .318/.391/.615 with a National League-leading 21 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. This has been his work as exclusively a designated hitter. Some people may forget that Ohtani is also a force on the mound. He is sidelined this year as he continues to recover from an elbow injury. In his career, he is 38-19 as a starter with a 3.01 ERA and 1.08 WHIP.
There is a great chance that once Shohei Ohtani returns to the mound, he will be a perennial Cy Young candidate along with Silver Slugger and MVP. While the Los Angeles Dodgers have a good rotation, having an ace like Ohtani at the top would be a massive upgrade. It is easy to see why the Dodgers locked him in for the next ten years and the hefty price.
MLB Needs More Stars Like This
Major League Baseball needs more stars like Shohei Ohtani. He is must-watch television. While other players may get signature cleats, Ohtani’s New Balance ones have the potential to really take off. The league needs more players who captivate the entire sports world and not just the baseball world. Other sports have them. Even if you don’t follow the NBA, LeBron James is a household name. Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and many other NFL players transcend their sport.
Baseball has been suffering for the last decade with viewership. If they can find the next generation of stars like Shohei Ohtani, they could draw people back into the game.
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