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Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani becomes the face of New Balance after signing a long-term shoe and apparel deal, with his own limited-edition shoe launching next month.
MLB star Shohei Ohtani has signed a long-term shoe and apparel deal with New Balance.
The two-way sensation has ended his association with Asics after eight years with the company from his home country of Japan.
The New Balance and Ohtani tie-in was announced Tuesday morning and the first product will be a limited-edition 574 cue set to launch next month.
MLB star Shohei Ohtani has signed a long-term shoe and apparel deal with New Balance
The two-way sensation has ended his association with Asics after eight years with the company.
“As I continue my baseball journey, I’m excited to join the New Balance family,” Ohtani said of the endorsement deal.
‘New Balance is a global brand known for having incredible innovative products, but also for being an authentic brand that allows its athletes to be themselves. I’m excited to join them in changing the game.’
In October, Ohtani agreed to a $30 million contract with the Angels for the upcoming 2023 season in his final year of arbitration eligibility before free agency.
In October, Ohtani agreed to a $30 million contract with the Angels for the 2023 season.
Ohtani’s deal is fully guaranteed, with no other provisions, and is the largest one-year contract ever awarded to an arbitration-eligible player.
The AL MVP’s $24.5 million raise over last year’s salary is also by far the largest for an arbitration-eligible player in Major League history.
“Shohei is a once-in-a-generation athlete who fits our largest roster of athletes in their approach to their respective sports,” baseball’s head of sports marketing Neil Brooks said Tuesday.
‘Shohei is never satisfied and constantly pushes himself and his team to be better while letting his performance on the field speak for itself.
“We look forward to building the relationship and helping Shohei achieve his dreams and, in the process, truly changing the game as we know it.”
Ohtani moved to the Angels in 2018, but the franchise hasn’t made the playoffs since 2014.
The Angels finished 2022 with a 73-89 record and fell 33 games behind the eventual World Series winners, the Houston Astros. in the American League West.
Ohtani moved to the now-unforsale Angels in 2018, but the franchise hasn’t made the playoffs since 2014.
The 28-year-old pitcher went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA as a pitcher. As a hitter he hit 34 home runs, had 95 RBIs and hit .273. His impressive performances earned him the AL MVP award last year.
He also received a special award, the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award, from Commissioner Rob Manfred to recognize his two-way play.
Ohtani is set to play in the World Baseball Classic before the MLB season begins in April.