The Dodgers’ new Japanese stars have garnered a lot of interest for the organization and increased the likelihood that certain players may gain notoriety.
Japanese TV stations interrupted their programming to cover Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani’s marriage announcement last week. Special editions were distributed by newspapers. Women observed a day of unpaid leave to grieve Ohtani’s loss of bachelorhood.
That is not the type of stardom James Outman is after. However, he believes that appearing in an ad for a Japanese confectionery brand may be entertaining.
The Dodgers center fielder said, “Knowing how to utilize that could be important for your brand because the market has grown.” “However, I don’t think being famous is a very good goal.”
However, this year’s acquisition of Shohei Ohtani and ace righthander Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the Los Angeles club has given their teammates an opportunity. Numerous Japanese reporters closely monitor their every step, documenting every second of the Dodgers spring training and hurriedly providing fans with updates. Michael Grove, a righty, will be in a few of those shots.
“I’m attempting to blend in with one,” he states. He hasn’t had much luck thus far (“We’re on different schedules”), but he could attempt picking up a joke in Japanese while the cameras are rolling. “I’ll be smiling, but I won’t know what I said,” he explains.
Yes, that was pretty much all it took for Los Angeles Angels utilityman Tyler Wade in 2022, when he was Ohtani’s teammate. He appeared in a few pictures and all of a sudden rose to fame, Shohei Ohtani started calling him “ikemen,” which translates to “hot guy.”
Who is the next hot guy for the Dodgers?
After a dozen Dodgers contributed, certain recurring themes showed up. Some others thought that the personality of the athletes would win over supporters. Some people just cared about appearances. Also, a few cognitive functions may be important.
Yamamoto predicts that reliever Brusdar Graterol will be successful, and he should know. Yamamoto remarks, via interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda, “He’s funny.”
After Shohei Ohtani officially promised Kelly’s No. 17 if he signed there and after Ohtani thanked the couple by purchasing a Porsche for Ashley, reliever Joe Kelly has a chance. Ryan Brasier, a reliever who pitched for the Hiroshima Carp in 2017, agrees.
Teoscar Hernández, a left fielder, is Outman’s choice: Outman remarks, “He gets along with Shohei so well.” They are always making jokes. While Shohei teaches him Japanese, he teaches him Spanish. The narratives compose themselves.
But images also convey a narrative.
Third baseman Max Muncy said of the space, “It’s not a bad-looking room.” “However, I don’t believe I rank first on that list.”
Utilityman Kiké Hernández shakes his head when asked the same question a day later. He says, “Definitely not Muncy.”
Dave Roberts, the manager, believes that Hernández will frequently find himself next to Shohei. However, Hernández looks around the room and grinned when he saw righty Tyler Glasnow’s locker.
He’s like a god of sex, Hernández remarks. “Tall, burly guy with long hair.”
The two most often given responses are Glasnow and Outman. Both have gorgeous locks and famous twins. Actor Cillian Murphy has noted how much Glasnow resembles him, while shortstop Gavin Lux and reliever Evan Phillips have also noted how much Outman like Kit Harrington, who portrayed Jon Snow in Game of Thrones.
Lux maintains that unless he grows out his own hair, he has no chance. He remarks, “It’s way too short.”)
While Glasnow claims that sushi is one of his favorite cuisines and that he would want to attempt to find a way to turn it into anything, Outman is excited about the candy deal. “Akin to omakase,” he describes it. “I’m not sure how you support that.”
However, he chooses Mookie Betts, the second baseman, who was the team’s greatest player prior to Ohtani’s signing. Freddie Freeman, a seven-time All-Star first baseman, is another Dodger who many have suggested. He shakes his head angrily.
“I don’t want to be famous,” Freeman declares, while he acknowledges that Charlie, his 7-year-old son and ardent Shohei Ohtani’s fan, could have different objectives.
And regardless of his will, it will occur. According to Phillips, “being associated with Shohei and Yamamoto pretty much gets everybody some extra fame.” That will greatly enhance the Dodgers’ brand. Basically, this is the perfect moment for a player to capitalize on it and expand their brand internationally.
Despite having his own brand, a partnership with Jordan Brand, and a marketing business, Betts is an image-conscious player who claims he is not dwelling too much on his Q score overseas.
“Hopefully, we’ll all be famous in Japan after we win a World Series,” he says.
