The Dodgers pulling off a back-to-back championship, it wasn’t just their pure talent that carried the day, but a well-thought and executed strategy backed by the team’s biggest bet so far: their three Japanese pitchers.
First, the two-way star Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year deal worth $700 million, Next came Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who inked a 12-year contract worth $325 million, as stated by True Blue L.A., the largest ever for a pitcher at the time. And finally, rising phenom Roki Sasaki, who’s signing included a hefty for $6.5 million signing bonus, True Blue L.A. also reports.
The total sum is often cited as “over US$1 billion” for an investment that paid off both on the field and financially. While the Dodgers made history, securing two consecutive World Series titles, they also cemented their global branding and star power worldwide.
A global phenomenon made in L.A.
In Japan, the first game of the 2025 Tokyo Series averaged more than 25 million viewers, a record for an MLB game in that country, as Fox Sports states. Meanwhile, CNBC reported that Ohtani-related product sales in Japan accounted for 57% of all MLB sales, while overall Dodgers merch sales skyrocketed by 2,000%
In South Korea, the MLB Seoul Series opener drew 18.7 million viewers, a record that was later surpassed only by Tokyo’s broadcast numbers Similarly, ratings in Taiwan for games featuring Ohtani’s team surged by 84 percent compared to matches without him, according to Time Magazine.
The inclusion of these players definitely goes far beyond the diamond, as they’re transforming how baseball itself is perceived around the world. With Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki leading the charge, the Dodgers are evolving from an American powerhouse into a global brand that could become a household name, like the Lakers, Barcelona, or the All Blacks… Teams whose legacy transcends sport and becomes part of global culture.