The Los Angeles Dodgers spent a lot of money to bring Shohei Ohtani to their team when he became a free agent last year. Ohtani is now the highest-paid player in MLB by a large amount, but he is showing his worth with great performances on the field. Additionally, Ohtani’s popularity has helped the Dodgers make more money from advertising in a short amount of time.

At the end of the 2023 season, Shohei Ohtani signed a groundbreaking 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, making it the biggest deal for a free agent in MLB history. Despite not pitching this year, the 30-year-old is aiming for the National League MVP title. Currently, Ohtani is close to achieving a remarkable 50-50 season with 46 home runs and 46 stolen bases so far.

Additionally, Ohtani’s impact on the Dodgers goes beyond the field, as the team’s revenue from advertising on the outfield wall at Dodgers Stadium has surged from $500,000 in 2023 to $6.5 million in 2024 after Ohtani’s signing, according to USA Today Sports.

This spike in attendance is amazing even for a team with a large fanbase, and Shohei Ohtani is a big reason for it. By staying healthy and performing well every day, he has helped the Dodgers fill their stadium for almost every home game.

Shohei Ohtani is having an incredible season in MLB history by being the first player to hit 45 home runs and steal 45 bases. He is close to reaching 50-50, but even this amazing accomplishment may not guarantee him the MVP award.

Currently, Ohtani is leading the NL in extra-base hits, slugging, total bases, runs scored, OPS, and home runs, even though he has only played as a DH this season. As a result, voters might consider Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets or Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks for MVP, despite their lower offensive stats.

Still, Ohtani is gearing up for his first postseason in MLB. The Dodgers have a season record of 86-57 and are ahead by six games in the NL West over the San Diego Padres.