Shohei Ohtani might not have looked like his usual self for much of this postseason, but as the saying goes, “form is temporary, class is permanent.” And Ohtani just proved exactly that. He showed up when it mattered most, right when the Dodgers needed him. So, forget the missed fastballs and those stretches without power because he just made history by becoming the first player ever to hit two home runs as a pitcher in a postseason game as the Dodgers swept the Brewers 5-0.

And that’s not even all. On the mound, he dominated with six scoreless innings and 10 SOs. So if anyone still doubts whether the Dodgers are getting their money’s worth from that $700 million contract, maybe take a look at what MLB insider Joon Lee has to say. Because apart from what Ohtani is delivering on the field, there’s a lot more for the team beyond that.

“Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract is enormous, but according to sources, the Dodgers made back the entirety of the contract in Ohtani’s first season in tickets, marketing deals in Japan/global, and merchandise. His impact on baseball’s growth cannot be understated.” Lee shared how Ohtani’s impact goes beyond the foul line.

Well, we all know what Shohei Ohtani brings to the field as his stats and records speak for themselves. But the Dodgers’ real win goes beyond the diamond. For reference, near the end of his time with the Angels, Ohtani was already generating around $10–20 million a year in extra revenue for the team. So when he joined the Dodgers, a franchise with a bigger fan base and a global following, those numbers were only expected to climb.

And they did, big time!!!

According to the LA Times, the Dodgers saw major boosts in ticket sales, merchandise, and even Dodger Stadium tours. For example, Japanese tourism officials have mentioned that over 80% of visitors from Japan make it a point to visit the ballpark. We call it the Ohtani effect in full swing.

Moreover, as reported by Sportico, Ohtani’s arrival helped increase the Dodgers’ overall franchise value by a staggering 23% in just a year. And remember the 2025 Tokyo Series? The cheapest tickets were going for over $3,500, another sign of his global pull. So yeah, that $700 million deal wasn’t just a baseball move, but it was a smart business investment, too.

Beyond the Dodgers, Ohtani is uplifting MLB, also

It’s not the Dodgers that are benefiting from the Ohtani effect. MLB as a whole just got its first true-blue global icon. Yes, before Ohtani, there were Babe Ruth, Derek Jeter, Aaron Judge, etc, but global presence? No one nears Ohtani.

So, arguably, Shohei Ohtani might just be the most popular athlete in the world right now. And his superstar status is giving MLB’s business in Japan a massive boost. According to Fanatics.com’s data, MLB merchandise sales in Japan jumped an incredible 170% last year alone. And over the past five years, Ohtani-related gear has made up 57% of all MLB sales through MLB Store Japan.

And since he joined the Dodgers? Their merchandise sales have skyrocketed more than 2,000% year-over-year.

Also, his impact isn’t just in sales either. The first game of this year’s Tokyo Series pulled in 25 million viewers in Japan. That’s the most-watched game ever in the country.

So, as MLB looks to expand its global reach, there’s really no better ambassador than Shohei Ohtani. Just like the NBA had Michael Jordan and golf had Tiger Woods, baseball now has its own global icon, the Japanese sensation himself.