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Shohei Ohtani’s introduction in L.A. yesterday "was a spectacle," with more than 300 media members in attendance and "countless more fans watching" on live television in the U.S. and Japan. Ohtani, speaking publicly for the first time since Aug. 9, said through interpreter
Ippei Mizuhara, "I can’t wait to play for the Dodgers. They share the same passion as me, a vision and a history of winning." Dodgers President of Baseball Operations
Andrew Friedman said the deal Ohtani eventually signed was "essentially agreed to" last Friday morning, but the Dodgers "had to withstand a wild flurry of rumors" Friday afternoon and evening before securing Ohtani (
L.A. TIMES, 12/14).
An electronic sign flashed "Welcome to the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani" in English and Japanese above the stage at Dodger Stadium. Fifteen rows of seats "were filled with media, Dodgers employees and sponsors" on the Centerfield Plaza, while "numerous Japanese television crews and photographers ringed the seating area" (AP, 12/14). In a 19-minute session "split between English and Japanese," Ohtani "took 14 questions, and answered about half of them" (SI, 12/14).
This was "no ordinary free-agent announcement," because this was "anything but just another free-agent signing" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 12/14). It "wasn’t a press conference" yesterday at Dodger Stadium -- "it was a spectacle" (USA TODAY, 12/14).
