Ohtani will earn $30 million in base salary from the Angels thanks to a one-year contract that the two sides agreed on last year in order to avoid arbitration. However, this only represents a chunk of the 28-year-old’s earnings.

Forbes calculated that Ohtani would get another $35 million thanks to endorsement deals. He has a high-profile partnership with a number of companies in his native Japan, including pharma company Kowa, watch manufacturer Seiko Watch, and cosmetics company Kose. In the U.S., Ohtani is endorsed by Fanatics, New Balance, and Topps, among other brands.

No other baseball player comes even close when in terms of endorsement deals. For example, Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies) earned $6.5 million from endorsements in 2022, while this year’s highest earner behind Ohtani is New York Yankees’ star Aaron Judge with $4.5 million.

The second highest-paid player in baseball is New York Mets’ pitcher Max Scherzer who will earn $59.3 million in 2023. Judge with $44.5 million, Justin Verlander (Mets) with $44.3 million, and Mike Trout (Angels) with $39.5 million round up the top five earners.

The post Angels’ Star Shohei Ohtani Unveiled As Baseball’s Highest-Paid Player appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with reporters on Monday, Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, was asked if there is a possibility that his client would sign an extension during spring training. While Balelo left the door open for that scenario, he also insisted that Ohtani “earned the right” to explore free agency.

“I’ve always been open to it,” Balelo said. “But there’s several layers to this one, and Shohei’s earned the right to play through the year, explore free agency, and we’ll see where it shakes out.”

Considered one of the best players in the game, Ohtani is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 season. He is expected to command the first $500 million contract in baseball history, with several teams reportedly willing to hit this mark with that kind of offer if they get the chance. The New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers will most likely be the most aggressive in their pursuit, but there are several sleeper options, including the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants.

Since coming to MLB ahead of the 2018 season, Ohtani has played on an elite level as both hitter and a pitcher. He earned two All-Star nods and four All-MLB selections while also being named AL MVP in 2021.

But despite Ohtani’s performances, the Angels failed to find success as a team. They not only missed playoffs in each of the five years Ohtani has been on the team but also failed to post a single winning season.

The post Shohei Ohtani’s Agent Says His Client “Earned the Right” to Explore Free Agency appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Ohtani was perfect throughout until the eighth inning when Conner Capel ended his no-hit bid with an infield single to shortstop Livan Soto. Dermis Garcia also got one hit on Ohtani, who finished the contest with a 2.35 ERA and 10 strikeouts. The 28-year-old also had two hits and one RBI as the Angels’ designated hitter.

“To be honest, the velocity on my fastball wasn’t as fast as normal,” said Ohtani through an interpreter. “But my slider was doing its thing and was working. I’m kind of surprised with my stuff today.”

After winning his first AL MVP award last season, Shohei Ohtani is among the favorites to repeat in 2022. He has a 15-8 record as a starter with a 2.35 ERA and an impressive 213 strikeouts. On top of that, he is batting .275 with 94 RBIs and 34 homers.

Ohtani’s biggest competition for the MVP honors is the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge. The star outfielder is in the midst of a career year that saw him tie Roger Maris’ AL record for most home runs in a single season with 61. Judge is also in conversation to take the Triple Crown, being first in home runs (61) and RBIs (130) and second in batting average (.313).

The post Angels’ Star Shohei Ohtani Delivers Near No-Hit Performance Against the Athletics appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Japanese phenom finished the night with 10 strikeouts, allowing one unearned run on two hits. The latter ended his streak of 21 2/3 scoreless frames.

Ohtani’s performance against the Marlins resulted in several notable firsts. For example, he became the first player in the history of the MLB to strike out ten, have two RBIs at-bats, and also record a stolen base.

“There can’t be many [records to set] left, right?” said Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery after the game via MLB.com. “I mean, he has most, if not all of them by now. He competes at everything. And he’s relentless. He can’t quench his thirst for what he does. It’s really fun to watch.”

After winning the AL MVP honors last season, Shohei Ohtani maintained a high level of performance in 2022 as well. This is especially in the pitching department, as he has an 8-4 record with 111 strikeouts and 2.44 ERA in 14 games. He is also on a five-game winning streak as a starter.

The post Angels Star Shohei Ohtani Has His Fourth Game Without Earned Run appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Ohtani had a historic campaign in 2021 that saw him excel in both hitting and pitching. The 27-year-old played in 155 games as a hitter and finished the season with a .257 batting average and 46 homers while adding 100 RBIs. He also made 23 starts as a pitcher, compiling a 9-2 record with 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts.

Ohtani got the AL MVP honors unanimously, finishing first on all 30 ballots from Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters. The Toronto Blue Jays’ first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Marcus Semien finished second and third respectively.

Harper, on the other hand, had his best season in the Phillies uniform. In 141 games, he had a .309 batting average, hit 35 home runs, and had 84 RBIs. The 29-year-old also led all of MLB with 42 doubles.

Harper had a total of 348 points, receiving 17 first-place votes and nine second-place votes. The Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto had 274 points behind him while the San Diego Padres’ phenom Fernando Tatis Jr. rounded up the top three with 244 points.

The post Angels’ Shohei Ohtani and Phillies’ Bryce Harper Win MVP appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“Of course, I’ll be very open to negotiation,” Ohtani said via ESPN. “The team is supporting me for this whole four years, and I’m really appreciative of that. Whether or not there’s any contract extensions I just want to, like I said earlier, be ready and be ready for next season.”

This comes after Ohtani previously said that his future with the franchise would depend on the Angels’ ability to win games. The 27-year-old superstar joined the team in 2018 and still hasn’t experienced a winning season in MLB.

Ohtani has one year left on his deal, which will pay him $5.5 in 2022. He’s set to have salary arbitration in 2023 and would then be a free agent after that.

The Angels are probably extremely motivated to lock down Shohei Ohtani after he enjoyed one of the best individual seasons in MBL history. As a designated hitter, Ohtani finished third in the league in home runs with 46 while adding 100 RBIs. As a pitcher, he posted a 9-2 record with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts.

The post Shohei Ohtani “Very Open” to New Deal with Angels appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

During a press conference on Thursday, Maddon revealed that Ohtani felt discomfort in his pitching arm while playing catch on practice. If the issue continues to bother the AL MVP favorite, he will only see action as a designated hitter moving forward.

“If there’s any kind of lingering soreness, you may not see him pitch,” said Maddon.

Ohtani, who hasn’t pitched since September 10th, is 9-2 as a starter for the Angels this season and has a 3.36 ERA with 136 strikeouts. And while Maddon would like to see the Japanese phenom get his 10th win in 2021, the team will prioritize his long-term health.

“You can’t let that be the driving factor,” he added.

The soreness in his arm isn’t expected to slow down Shohei Ohtani at-bats, however. He currently ranks second in the league in home runs with 44, trailing only the Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has 45. Ohtani also boasts a .254 batting average and has 94 RBIs.

The post Angels Considering Shutting Down Shohei Ohtani Due to Sore Arm appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

This made Ohtani the first two-way All-Star in MLB history. No other player received two selections for the same game since the league created the All-Star contest in 1933.

“It’s my first time, so I just want to enjoy everything. There’s also the Home Run Derby, so I’m looking forward to taking it all in and enjoy everything,” said Ohtani in a quote shared by the Angels.

Getting two All-Star nods is a testament to Ohtani’s dominant run in the 2021 season. As a pitcher, the 27-year-old player has a 3-1 record while posting a 3.60 ERA and totaling 83 strikeouts.

Ohtani is performing even better at-bats, hitting .278 with 67 RBIs. His 31 home runs this season are the most in the entire league.

Besides Ohtani, the Angels have two more All-Stars. Mike Trout was selected as a starting outfielder, while Jared Walsh made the reserves as a first baseman. Only Ohtani and Walsh will take part in the game, however, since Trout is currently out with a right calf strain.

The 2021 MLB All-Star game will take place on Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, on July 13th.

The post Shohei Ohtani Becomes First Two-Way All-Star in MLB History appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hitting and pitching in the same MLB game for the first time in his career, Ohtani started off with a fastball that clocked in at 100.6 mph and was the fastest pitch by any starting pitcher in the MLB this season. He followed that up with a home run, which, according to MLB’s official stats, traveled 451 feet and had an exit velocity of 115.2 mph.

Ohtani continued to terrorize Chicago until the fifth inning when a collision with the White Sox’s Jose Abreu forced him to exit the game. The 26-year-old player covered the plate after one of catcher Max Stassi’s drops when Abreu slid into him and made contact with his ankle.

Ohtani finished the night striking out seven, while nine of his pitches went over 100 mph. He was one for three at the plate, becoming the first pitcher in the MLB since 1903 to bat second in the lineup.

Angels manager Joe Maddon said that Ohtani’s exit was just a matter of precaution and that he is doing “fine” after the collision.

“What he did tonight was pretty special,” Maddon said about Ohtani’s performance. “You’re going to see a lot more of that season-in-progress. It was fun to watch and had everybody entertained. It’s what he signed up to do, and he had a chance to do it tonight.”

The post Shohei Ohtani Impresses Against Chicago But Forced to Leave Early appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Despite not having exhibited any outward signs of injury down the stretch with the AL West team, Angels GM Billy Eppler announced on Thursday that Ohtani was set to undergo a procedure to fix a bipartite patella in his left knee. This is a genetic condition that causes some humans to be born with a kneecap that contains two parts instead of one solid bone.

This condition, despite not hampering Ohtani at the plate, was apparently causing discomfort for the two-way player while throwing. The Japanese player hasn’t featured as a pitcher this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018.

Ohtani has been a rare bright spot for an underachieving Angels team in 2019. The 25-year-old, who serves as the team’s primary designated hitter, putting up a .286/.343/.505 slash line with 18 home runs in 106 games.

The Japanese phenom is expected to make a full recovery from surgery within two to three months and return to the team as both a hitter and pitcher for next season.

The post Shohei Ohtani to Miss Rest of 2019 Due to Knee Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Ohtani will earn $30 million in base salary from the Angels thanks to a one-year contract that the two sides agreed on last year in order to avoid arbitration. However, this only represents a chunk of the 28-year-old’s earnings.

Forbes calculated that Ohtani would get another $35 million thanks to endorsement deals. He has a high-profile partnership with a number of companies in his native Japan, including pharma company Kowa, watch manufacturer Seiko Watch, and cosmetics company Kose. In the U.S., Ohtani is endorsed by Fanatics, New Balance, and Topps, among other brands.

No other baseball player comes even close when in terms of endorsement deals. For example, Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies) earned $6.5 million from endorsements in 2022, while this year’s highest earner behind Ohtani is New York Yankees’ star Aaron Judge with $4.5 million.

The second highest-paid player in baseball is New York Mets’ pitcher Max Scherzer who will earn $59.3 million in 2023. Judge with $44.5 million, Justin Verlander (Mets) with $44.3 million, and Mike Trout (Angels) with $39.5 million round up the top five earners.

The post Angels’ Star Shohei Ohtani Unveiled As Baseball’s Highest-Paid Player appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with reporters on Monday, Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, was asked if there is a possibility that his client would sign an extension during spring training. While Balelo left the door open for that scenario, he also insisted that Ohtani “earned the right” to explore free agency.

“I’ve always been open to it,” Balelo said. “But there’s several layers to this one, and Shohei’s earned the right to play through the year, explore free agency, and we’ll see where it shakes out.”

Considered one of the best players in the game, Ohtani is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 season. He is expected to command the first $500 million contract in baseball history, with several teams reportedly willing to hit this mark with that kind of offer if they get the chance. The New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers will most likely be the most aggressive in their pursuit, but there are several sleeper options, including the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants.

Since coming to MLB ahead of the 2018 season, Ohtani has played on an elite level as both hitter and a pitcher. He earned two All-Star nods and four All-MLB selections while also being named AL MVP in 2021.

But despite Ohtani’s performances, the Angels failed to find success as a team. They not only missed playoffs in each of the five years Ohtani has been on the team but also failed to post a single winning season.

The post Shohei Ohtani’s Agent Says His Client “Earned the Right” to Explore Free Agency appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Ohtani was perfect throughout until the eighth inning when Conner Capel ended his no-hit bid with an infield single to shortstop Livan Soto. Dermis Garcia also got one hit on Ohtani, who finished the contest with a 2.35 ERA and 10 strikeouts. The 28-year-old also had two hits and one RBI as the Angels’ designated hitter.

“To be honest, the velocity on my fastball wasn’t as fast as normal,” said Ohtani through an interpreter. “But my slider was doing its thing and was working. I’m kind of surprised with my stuff today.”

After winning his first AL MVP award last season, Shohei Ohtani is among the favorites to repeat in 2022. He has a 15-8 record as a starter with a 2.35 ERA and an impressive 213 strikeouts. On top of that, he is batting .275 with 94 RBIs and 34 homers.

Ohtani’s biggest competition for the MVP honors is the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge. The star outfielder is in the midst of a career year that saw him tie Roger Maris’ AL record for most home runs in a single season with 61. Judge is also in conversation to take the Triple Crown, being first in home runs (61) and RBIs (130) and second in batting average (.313).

The post Angels’ Star Shohei Ohtani Delivers Near No-Hit Performance Against the Athletics appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Japanese phenom finished the night with 10 strikeouts, allowing one unearned run on two hits. The latter ended his streak of 21 2/3 scoreless frames.

Ohtani’s performance against the Marlins resulted in several notable firsts. For example, he became the first player in the history of the MLB to strike out ten, have two RBIs at-bats, and also record a stolen base.

“There can’t be many [records to set] left, right?” said Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery after the game via MLB.com. “I mean, he has most, if not all of them by now. He competes at everything. And he’s relentless. He can’t quench his thirst for what he does. It’s really fun to watch.”

After winning the AL MVP honors last season, Shohei Ohtani maintained a high level of performance in 2022 as well. This is especially in the pitching department, as he has an 8-4 record with 111 strikeouts and 2.44 ERA in 14 games. He is also on a five-game winning streak as a starter.

The post Angels Star Shohei Ohtani Has His Fourth Game Without Earned Run appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Ohtani had a historic campaign in 2021 that saw him excel in both hitting and pitching. The 27-year-old played in 155 games as a hitter and finished the season with a .257 batting average and 46 homers while adding 100 RBIs. He also made 23 starts as a pitcher, compiling a 9-2 record with 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts.

Ohtani got the AL MVP honors unanimously, finishing first on all 30 ballots from Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters. The Toronto Blue Jays’ first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Marcus Semien finished second and third respectively.

Harper, on the other hand, had his best season in the Phillies uniform. In 141 games, he had a .309 batting average, hit 35 home runs, and had 84 RBIs. The 29-year-old also led all of MLB with 42 doubles.

Harper had a total of 348 points, receiving 17 first-place votes and nine second-place votes. The Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto had 274 points behind him while the San Diego Padres’ phenom Fernando Tatis Jr. rounded up the top three with 244 points.

The post Angels’ Shohei Ohtani and Phillies’ Bryce Harper Win MVP appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“Of course, I’ll be very open to negotiation,” Ohtani said via ESPN. “The team is supporting me for this whole four years, and I’m really appreciative of that. Whether or not there’s any contract extensions I just want to, like I said earlier, be ready and be ready for next season.”

This comes after Ohtani previously said that his future with the franchise would depend on the Angels’ ability to win games. The 27-year-old superstar joined the team in 2018 and still hasn’t experienced a winning season in MLB.

Ohtani has one year left on his deal, which will pay him $5.5 in 2022. He’s set to have salary arbitration in 2023 and would then be a free agent after that.

The Angels are probably extremely motivated to lock down Shohei Ohtani after he enjoyed one of the best individual seasons in MBL history. As a designated hitter, Ohtani finished third in the league in home runs with 46 while adding 100 RBIs. As a pitcher, he posted a 9-2 record with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts.

The post Shohei Ohtani “Very Open” to New Deal with Angels appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

During a press conference on Thursday, Maddon revealed that Ohtani felt discomfort in his pitching arm while playing catch on practice. If the issue continues to bother the AL MVP favorite, he will only see action as a designated hitter moving forward.

“If there’s any kind of lingering soreness, you may not see him pitch,” said Maddon.

Ohtani, who hasn’t pitched since September 10th, is 9-2 as a starter for the Angels this season and has a 3.36 ERA with 136 strikeouts. And while Maddon would like to see the Japanese phenom get his 10th win in 2021, the team will prioritize his long-term health.

“You can’t let that be the driving factor,” he added.

The soreness in his arm isn’t expected to slow down Shohei Ohtani at-bats, however. He currently ranks second in the league in home runs with 44, trailing only the Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has 45. Ohtani also boasts a .254 batting average and has 94 RBIs.

The post Angels Considering Shutting Down Shohei Ohtani Due to Sore Arm appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

This made Ohtani the first two-way All-Star in MLB history. No other player received two selections for the same game since the league created the All-Star contest in 1933.

“It’s my first time, so I just want to enjoy everything. There’s also the Home Run Derby, so I’m looking forward to taking it all in and enjoy everything,” said Ohtani in a quote shared by the Angels.

Getting two All-Star nods is a testament to Ohtani’s dominant run in the 2021 season. As a pitcher, the 27-year-old player has a 3-1 record while posting a 3.60 ERA and totaling 83 strikeouts.

Ohtani is performing even better at-bats, hitting .278 with 67 RBIs. His 31 home runs this season are the most in the entire league.

Besides Ohtani, the Angels have two more All-Stars. Mike Trout was selected as a starting outfielder, while Jared Walsh made the reserves as a first baseman. Only Ohtani and Walsh will take part in the game, however, since Trout is currently out with a right calf strain.

The 2021 MLB All-Star game will take place on Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, on July 13th.

The post Shohei Ohtani Becomes First Two-Way All-Star in MLB History appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hitting and pitching in the same MLB game for the first time in his career, Ohtani started off with a fastball that clocked in at 100.6 mph and was the fastest pitch by any starting pitcher in the MLB this season. He followed that up with a home run, which, according to MLB’s official stats, traveled 451 feet and had an exit velocity of 115.2 mph.

Ohtani continued to terrorize Chicago until the fifth inning when a collision with the White Sox’s Jose Abreu forced him to exit the game. The 26-year-old player covered the plate after one of catcher Max Stassi’s drops when Abreu slid into him and made contact with his ankle.

Ohtani finished the night striking out seven, while nine of his pitches went over 100 mph. He was one for three at the plate, becoming the first pitcher in the MLB since 1903 to bat second in the lineup.

Angels manager Joe Maddon said that Ohtani’s exit was just a matter of precaution and that he is doing “fine” after the collision.

“What he did tonight was pretty special,” Maddon said about Ohtani’s performance. “You’re going to see a lot more of that season-in-progress. It was fun to watch and had everybody entertained. It’s what he signed up to do, and he had a chance to do it tonight.”

The post Shohei Ohtani Impresses Against Chicago But Forced to Leave Early appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Despite not having exhibited any outward signs of injury down the stretch with the AL West team, Angels GM Billy Eppler announced on Thursday that Ohtani was set to undergo a procedure to fix a bipartite patella in his left knee. This is a genetic condition that causes some humans to be born with a kneecap that contains two parts instead of one solid bone.

This condition, despite not hampering Ohtani at the plate, was apparently causing discomfort for the two-way player while throwing. The Japanese player hasn’t featured as a pitcher this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018.

Ohtani has been a rare bright spot for an underachieving Angels team in 2019. The 25-year-old, who serves as the team’s primary designated hitter, putting up a .286/.343/.505 slash line with 18 home runs in 106 games.

The Japanese phenom is expected to make a full recovery from surgery within two to three months and return to the team as both a hitter and pitcher for next season.

The post Shohei Ohtani to Miss Rest of 2019 Due to Knee Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.