While Shohei Ohtani was collecting accolades, Fernando Tatis Jr. was making a play for his endorsements.

Tatis Jr made a bold marketing move, eyeing the Japanese tea brand that Shohei Ohtani represents. By stepping into Ohtani’s spotlight, Tatis became a strong competitor, attracting attention from fans and brands. And finally, that stunt has resulted in an official deal, reported Wilber Sánchez via X.

“Fernando Tatis Jr. is the new face of Oi Ochoa Drink. After being rejected by several players during the World Baseball Classic, the Japanese beverage brand signed Fernando Tatis Jr. Tatis Jr is the King OF marketing.”

Just a little more than a week ago, the Padres shortstop, Fernando Tatis Jr, was having his own fun at the World Baseball Classic. On Monday, just before the WBC presser started, he picked up a bottle of Oi Ocha, posed with it, and made a “call me” gesture. But Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr kept those drinks aside, presumably rejecting them.

While his smile made his humor evident, his marketing tactic just made him the next face of the brand. However, no official details about the deal has been released yet.

He could either replace Ohtani or be the ambassador alongside the two-way phenom.

Shotime signed a deal with the world’s No. 1 unsweetened green tea beverage brand in May 2024, as his appointment was announced as ‘ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador.’ The main goal was to spread Japan’s tea culture worldwide.

On May 20, 2024, ITO EN launched the ‘#OiLAOhtani-san’ campaign, inviting fans to visit LA to watch Ohtani’s match. After that, there were activities to contribute to the earth’s future through green tea.

Following that, Oi Ocha also signed an official partnership with MLB, as well in January 2025. ITO EN became the Official Green Tea of MLB in Japan. And since then, the “Oi Ocha” x Ohtani x MLB 3-way relationship started.

But even without this deal, Ohtani has many other partnerships. But Fernando Tatis Jr.’s stunt could make more brands notice him, turning him into a real competitor.

Meanwhile, Shotime partnered with Seiko just less than a week ago for a special edition watch made in his honor. On top of that, Ohtani is also handling his huge $700 million contract with the Dodgers.

He has deferred much of the money, focusing on improving the roster and winning games now. Back in 2024, he even explained how his mindset and plan already paid off.

“It definitely was rewarding,” Ohtani told Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

“You know, Mark [Walter], Andrew [Friedman], the owners, we all made a promise to each other that we would go out and create the best team to put out on the field. And we were able to win the World Series, so in that sense, we were able to keep our promise towards each other.”

After 2024, Ohtani now has 2x World Series rings already with LA. Plus, Ohtani’s popularity in Japan is undeniable.

Shohei Ohtani’s fame makes Japanese fans watch games in huge numbers, with over 25 million people per game during the MLB Tokyo Series. His jerseys and other merchandise sell extremely well, and his presence attracts sponsorship deals.

The Dodgers earned about $70 million in new sponsorships from Japanese companies, and advertisers bought space whenever Ohtani played. So, replacing him may not be that straightforward, even with Tatis’ remarkable journey.

Fernando Tatis Jr.’s performance in the WBC

Fernando Tatis Jr. played really well at the World Baseball Classic. He was hitting over .300 with two home runs and 11 RBIs for Team Dominican Republic. He also hit a grand slam earlier in the tournament.

That grand slam shows that Tatis can perform in clutch moments. Fans and experts see his consistency and that he delivers when it matters most, both for the Padres and his national team.

Tatis is also a big star in MLB.

In 2025, he made his third All-Star team. He hit .268 and had a .368 on-base percentage, a .446 slugging percentage, and an .814 OPS. He also hit 25 home runs, drove in 81 RBIs, scored 111 runs, and stole 32 bases, showing he can do everything well on the field.

He wanted to win the World Baseball Classic and had really high hopes for it.

“So many great players, so many Hall of Famers, have put the Dominican Republic on their chest,” Tatis said. “Being able to have that opportunity is just top of the shelf.”

However, that didn’t happen as the Dominican Republic lost against the USA in the semifinals. But even with the heartbreak, Tatis Jr. is making sure he makes major moves off the field.