The Dodgers pulled out all the stops to land prized double threat Shohei Ohtani, including a big sales pitch from the late Kobe Bryant.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the team showed a 6-year-old recorded video message from Bryant as part of their recruitment to land Ohtani in the eventual 10-year, $700 million ($A1.045bn) contract.
In 2017, Bryant made a minute-long video for the Dodgers as a favor in pursuit of Ohtani, but he instead signed with the Angels.
But this time, the Dodgers got the highly coveted player.
Ohtani spoke highly of the video from the Lakers star, who died in a January 2020 helicopter crash.
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“That was one of the highlights of the whole meeting,” Ohtani told ESPN.
“I was really surprised to see it. It was a strong and touching message.”
In the video, Bryant gave the overall message that Los Angeles and the Dodgers are top places to win.
The two never met, but Ohtani was in awe when the Lakers legend said his name, ESPN reported.
The moment became the cherry on top for him to commit to Los Angeles.
Ohtani’s deal is the largest contract in professional sports history, but it was later revealed that $68 million of the annual $70 million compensation will be deferred until his deal is up.
The two-way star also reportedly earns $50 million in endorsement revenue each year and felt that the deferrals would help the Dodgers be able to afford more players to build around him by staying under the luxury tax.
And, just this week, the team added to its rotation by bringing in Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow in a blockbuster trade.
Per The Athletic, Ohtani was instrumental in bringing in the hurler, saying he wants to belt homers for Glasnow.
The Dodgers won’t fully reap the benefits of Ohtani’s performance until 2025 when he will likely be able to take the mound after undergoing surgery on his right elbow in September, though he will be able to hit this coming season.
Last season, Ohtani held a 10-5 record paired with a 3.14 ERA on the mound while hitting 44 home runs with 95 RBIs as a hitter en route to winning the 2023 AL MVP.
This article first appeared on The New York Postand was reproduced with permission
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