May 17 Named ‘Shohei Ohtani Day’ In Los Angeles

Shohei Ohtani was honored at Los Angeles City Hall on Friday by City Council and was presented with a resolution declaring May 17 “Shohei Ohtani Day” in the city for the duration of his Los Angeles Dodgers career.

Members of the Dodgers front office and Dodger manager Dave Roberts were in attendance as the council recognized Ohtani for his athletic achievements and historic impact as an Angeleno of Japanese descent.

“Thank you very much to the L.A. City Council,” Ohtani said. “I appreciate you recognizing me on this day. I want to thank the Dodger organization as well and all the fans.”

Since making his Major League debut on March 29, 2018, the two-way superstar has accumulated multiple distinctions.

At the end of his rookie season, he was named the American League Rookie of the Year and later became the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle in 2019. He earned the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award in 2021, becoming the 16th recipient and second Japanese-born individual to be recognized since the distinction began in 1998.

Ohtani also won the American League’s Most Valuable Player and Silver Slugger honors, as well as the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, in both the 2021 and 2023 seasons.

“Simply put, Shohei has become part of the fabric of Los Angeles,” Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said. “Since becoming a member of the Dodger family in December, Shohei has been everything we’ve hoped for and more. We are grateful for his accomplishments on the field, his warmth in the clubhouse and his character in all respects – and we congratulate him on this well-deserved honor.”

Ohtani was a member of Team Japan during the 2023 World Baseball Classic and was named the Most Valuable Player and part of the All-Tournament team.

On April 21, he became the all-time leader in home runs hit by a Japanese-born player in Major League Baseball. Nearly a month later, Ohtani passed Roberts as he broke the Dodger record for home runs hit by a Japanese-born player.

Shohei Ohtani surprises pediatric patient with Dodgers gifts

Prior to Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds for Ohtani bobblehead night, the superstar met with Albert, a pediatric patient of UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital.

Ohtani surprised Albert with an autographed jersey, a bobblehead of himself, suite tickets to the game, and the opportunity to throw out the first pitch.