Shohei Ohtani continues to make money, as the Los Angeles Dodgers player signed a long-term sponsorship contract with sports technology company Rapsodo. Rapsodo announced the deal on Monday with a brief video on X that read, “For the one who lives, eats, and breathes baseball.”
The firm’s website states that it is “a sports analytics company that empowers athletes and coaches to analyze and improve their game, with affordable, portable, easy-to-use, data-driven sports technologies.” The company was founded in 2010 and has offices in four countries, including one in St. Louis and Yokohama, Japan.
Ohtani has advocated for utilizing advanced technologies and analytics to improve player performance. He’s previously used Rapsodo goods, so this is a perfect fit.
“I wish these tools were available to me earlier,” Ohtani stated, according to the Rapsodo website. “I think players should use these tools for growth, and the earlier they start using them, the faster their growth will be.”
Rapsodo offers golf technologies as well as baseball and softball devices. Other MLB ambassadors for the firm include Aaron Judge, Blake Snell, and Francisco Lindor.
Despite the off-field distractions, Shohei Ohtani’s debut season with the Dodgers has been all business. Most people underestimated Ohtani’s effect as a designated hitter, but he has demonstrated why he is such a divisive figure.
In just 24 games, Ohtani has established himself as a contender for MVP. He leads the MLB in batting average (.368), hits (35), and doubles (11). He also has five home runs, five steals, and one hit in 21 games. Interestingly, Ohtani has touched base safely in all but one game.
The Dodgers have not quite followed pace with a strong start to the 2024 season. Though Los Angeles is in a familiar position atop the NL West standings, its 13-11 record is not as expected. The Dodgers have dropped seven of their last ten games following a 10-4 start.
After losing three games in a row at home, the Los Angeles Dodgers rebounded with a 10-0 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday. Ohtani hit a two-run homer and reached base three times in the win.
Shohei Ohtani’s ability to generate endorsement deals is most likely one of the reasons why a significant amount of his income from his megadeal with the Dodgers is postponed. This collaboration with Rapsodo is the most recent example of how the 29-year-old has altered the rules for superstardom.
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