It’s undeniable that Shohei Ohtani is perhaps the biggest star in baseball today. Not only is he a huge sensation in the US but he is arguably the biggest star in Japan. That was evident by the fact that when the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him, a hoard of Japanese brands signed a deal with them to attach their name to Ohtani. But how high does Shotime’s income go? A famous analyst has answered the question and it is quite shocking.

Scott Braun from the Foul Territory Show talked about Ohtani’s rising popularity. Though Forbes’ report had mentioned that Ohtani was expected to earn $62 million this year, Braun revealed another shocking number. While sharing famous journalist Ken Rosenthal’s source’s report, Braun revealed that Ohtani might be earning over $100 million per year!

“Ken’s source said, a $100 million-plus per year on endorsements for Shohei Ohtani,” Braun said. “He’s the face of sports in Japan. A $100 million plus that stood out to me.” That is a huge claim, especially because it takes Ohtani right near the top of the highest-earning athletes in sports today. However, Braun never clarified whether it was a pre-tax figure or a post-tax one. 

As one knows, California has one of the highest income tax rates in all of the US. That is one of the reasons why experts called Shohei Ohtani’s 97% deferral a genius move. The two-way phenom can just move out of the state after ten years and receive that payment without much taxes. Could that $100 million number be a pre-tax figure? Sure, it could be. Still, it won’t make it any lesser achievement.

However, it was just this information that stood out from the show. Scott Braun also revealed how Shohei Ohtani’s personality has changed completely since moving to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

From an introvert to a happy-go-lucky man, how Shohei Ohtani changed

Braun shared Dave Roberts’ comments on Ohtani where he said that the star had “blossomed” and become more “independent” and “open” in Dodgers. This is in stark contrast to his Los Angeles Angels days when Shotime lived in his own bubble. The only way to contact him was through his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and that created a distant feeling between the team and Ohtani.

But then since Mizuhara’s gambling issues came to light, Ohtani’s behavior has changed. Without the shackles of an interpreter, the two-way phenom has worked on creating a personal relationship with his teammates. That includes talking to them without a translator and understanding what the team wants. As a result, there’s a distinct bond that has developed between the players and Shohei Ohtani.

Still, while Shotime has worked hard to create a good environment, one thing remains the same – he is the biggest star in baseball today. Could his earnings grow even more? There is no reason to believe that it cannot.