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There aren’t any baseball players who’ve managed to generate more buzz in recent memory than Shohei Ohtani, the six-tool phenom who took the MLB by storm after joining the Angels in 2018. However, some reporters who’ve devoted their careers to covering him could be forced to uproot their lives based on where he decides to play next season.
As of this writing, Shohei Ohtani hasn’t decided where he’ll be playing when the 2024 MLB season kicks off. While he’s spent the entirety of his time in the league with the Los Angeles Angels, they were unable to take advantage of having him and Mike Trout on the roster at the same time, and it was hard to blame him for wanting to explore his options.
There’s a chance Ohtani decides to remain in the city where he’s spent his career by signing with the Dodgers, and according to the Los Angeles Times, there’s a group of people who are probably hoping that ends up being the case in the form of the Japanese reporters who are tasked with covering his every move.
As you likely know, Ohtani hails from Japan and initially made a name for himself as a member of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters before taking his many talents to the United States.
When he made the move, a number of Japanese outlets sent correspondents to America to keep tabs on the superstar, and a few of them told the Times there was a very good chance they’ll have to move to whatever city Ohtani ends up in if he doesn’t op to stay in L.A.
While it’s hard to imagine he’s taking their needs into consideration, one reporter noted the worst-case scenario would involve Ohtani signing with the Toronto Blue Jays, as he said he’s unsure if he’d be able to obtain the work visa he’d need to secure in order to set up shop in the country.
The stakes are pretty high for every MLB team currently angling to obtain Ohtani’s services, but you have to feel for the media members who are facing an uncertain future as he plays things close to the chest.