Los Angeles: Japanese two-way baseball star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to a 10-year, 700-million-dollar contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, his agent announced Saturday.

According to U.S. media reports, the total value of the contract is the highest in the history of professional sports, surpassing the 674-million-dollar contract signed by Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi with Spain’s FC Barcelona.

“I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision. I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team,” Ohtani, 29, said in an Instagram post.

The Dodgers are a prestigious baseball team with a history dating back to the 19th century. In the past, many Japanese players, including Hideo Nomo, have played for the team.

In the 2023 season, the Dodgers won the National League West title for the second consecutive season, but lost in the NL Division Series in the playoffs.

In the offseason, the Dodgers made acquiring Ohtani, who became a free agent from the Los Angeles Angels, a top priority, competing with the Toronto Blue Jays and other teams for him.

In 2013, Ohtani was drafted by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Japanese professional league from Hanamaki Higashi High School in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Iwate. He was traded to the Angels in 2018.

In the 2023 season, his sixth year in the Major League Baseball, Otani continued to play an active dual role as a pitcher and hitter, becoming the first Japanese player to win the home run crown with 44 home runs.

As a pitcher, he went 10-5 with a 3.14 earned run average, becoming the first MLB player in history to record double-digit wins and double-digit home runs for two consecutive years.

Ohtani was named the American League Most Valuable Player for the second time by a full vote.

In the World Baseball Classic in March this year, he contributed to Japan’s victory and was named MVP.

He underwent his second right elbow surgery in September. It is expected to take more than a year before he can pitch again. He is expected to focus on hitting next season.

JIJI Press