May 17 will now be known as “Shohei Ohtani Day” in Los Angeles County, for at least the next decade. On that special day of recognition Ohtani was honored at Los Angeles City Hall and presented with the resolution.
While the event took place in the morning, Ohtani returned to Dodger Stadium in the afternoon. He celebrated his first Ohtani Day by hitting an opposite-field two-run homer to help the Dodgers beat the Reds, 7-3.
Major League Baseball reports that the two-way superstar has accumulated multiple distinctions since making his Major League debut on March 29, 2018. 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 honor began in 1998.
Ohtani continues to establish himself as one of the most recognizable sports figures in the world.
The MLB also reports that Ohtani’s homer on Friday gives him 13 on the season, tying him for the Major League lead with Houston’s Kyle Tucker and Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson. The two-time American League Most Valuable Player leads the Majors with a .358 batting average and a 1.102 OPS.
“Thank you very much to the L.A. City Council,” Ohtani said earlier Friday through a team press release. “I appreciate you recognizing me on this day. I want to thank the Dodger organization as well and all the fans.”
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