Kobe Bryant’s Legacy Plays Pivotal Role in Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Signing

The Dodgers’ relentless pursuit of Shohei Ohtani in free agency was fueled by a comprehensive strategy, leveraging every available resource to secure baseball’s biggest catch. One particularly impactful element in their pitch was a minute-long video featuring the late Los Angeles sporting icon, Kobe Bryant.

As reported by ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez and Jeff Passan, the Dodgers resurrected a video recorded by Bryant six years ago during their initial pursuit of Ohtani in 2017. Back then, Ohtani, a highly coveted 23-year-old, was a prime target for several franchises, with the Dodgers valuing him highly. Notably, Los Angeles had attempted to lure Ohtani to the United States while he was still in high school in 2012.

Bryant’s video, recorded as a favor to the Dodgers, aimed to be the centerpiece of the team’s pursuit of the young superstar. However, the timing was not ideal, as Ohtani’s preference at the time was to play as a designated hitter, a role available only in the American League. Consequently, Ohtani joined the Angels, situated just 40 minutes away at Angels Stadium, and the Dodgers held onto the video, anticipating its potential future utility.

Fast forward to this winter, three years after Bryant’s tragic helicopter crash. During a meeting between Ohtani and the Dodgers’ leadership, Bryant appeared on the screen in what turned out to be a poignant and impactful moment.

Ohtani, expressing his surprise and appreciation, stated through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, “That was one of the highlights of the whole meeting. I was really surprised to see it. It was a strong and touching message.”

In the end, Ohtani made the significant decision to trade Angels red for Dodgers blue. While various factors influenced his choice, including the Dodgers’ postseason success and player development reputation, Bryant’s video undoubtedly played a meaningful role in the successful recruitment of the Japanese superstar.