Employing both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto began a new era for the Los Angeles Dodgers, one that has an emphasis on international marketing. The team has just returned from playing its first regular season games in Asia, and a return could be in the cards in the future.
When the offseason began, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale told our Doug McKain that Los Angeles wanted to be “Japan’s team.”
During a recent interview with @dmac_la , Bob Nightengale spoke about why he believes the Dodgers remain the favorites to land Ohtani & how they would like to be Japan’s team🔥 pic.twitter.com/iSdyvEeQiP
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 3, 2023
The Dodgers don’t plan to stop there, and neither does Yamamoto. Just this month, members of Yamamoto’s former team, the Orix Buffalos, were seen on social media repping Los Angeles gear. It’s now come out that Yamamoto sent the gear to his former teammates, potentially in a way to recruit them.
“Photographs were recently posted on social media of the Buffaloes players in Dodgers shirts with their fingers forming interlocking “L.A.” symbols. The gear, it turns out, was shipped to them by Yamamoto.”
The Dodgers’ interest in Japanese players has been apparent for a long time, but it seems they are building a potential pipeline. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes spoke on this earlier in the offseason, noting that younger kids playing baseball will likely see a lot of Dodgers games due to the team’s recent signings.
Even after all the high-profile moves of this offseason by the Dodgers, they have already been linked to another star in Japan. Right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki is the next target in the eyes of the front office and reports have come out saying that Los Angeles wants the pitcher “no matter what.”
This report says the Dodgers want Roki Sasaki "no matter what" and "already plan to acquire (him)."
They have been scouting him since high school, similar to their pursuit of Ohtani.
Sasaki reportedly wants to be posted to MLB after the 2024 season.
He's just 22 years old. https://t.co/LlppiuKZQ6 pic.twitter.com/klQy2mvn5f
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) January 5, 2024
With their history and the additions of Ohtani and Yamamoto, the Dodgers will likely have an advantage over other teams in landing Japanese talent. This was a calculated move by the front office and one that could pay off well in the long term.
