According to an article by Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, he is being forced to sell his $8 million California mansion due to privacy concerns. Yes indeed! Japan.
The two-way star purchased the lavish mansion in La Cañada Flintridge, California, in May for a reported $7.85 million (¥1.2 billion). According to Yahoo!, he still hasn’t moved in.
A translated version of the Yahoo article reads: “Ohtani said he could no longer live in the 1.2 billion yen house he bought, and indicated he planned to sell it without moving into his new home.”
Several media reports have helped fans pinpoint the home’s exact location. On separate occasions, Japanese networks Fuji TV and Nippon TV sent crews to the home, where reporters took photos, filmed and interviewed neighbors, according to Yahoo! While neither reported the home’s specific address, both networks have been accused of effectively revealing its location through their respective reports.
Fuji TV has since apologized, but Nippon TV has not yet done so.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani, left, and his wife Mamiko Tanaka on May 2
The house is said to be owned by comedian Adam Carolla.
Ohtani bought the house after the busiest off-season of his life.
Not only did he leave the Los Angeles Angels to sign a long-term, 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, the 30-year-old also married his girlfriend, Japanese basketball player Mamiko Tanaka.
It’s no surprise that the La Cañada mansion is said to feature a basketball hoop.
On Thursday, Ohtani was named MLB’s Outstanding Player for the fourth consecutive year at ESPN’s ESPY Awards.
Though offseason elbow surgery will keep him from pitching in 2024, the two-way sensation continues to hit for the Dodgers, currently ranking second in the majors in home runs (28) and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.026).
For the year, Ohtani has a .314 batting average, leading the Dodgers to a 55-39 record — better than all MLB teams except the Philadelphia Phillies.