LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani was honored at Los Angeles City Hall this morning by City Council and presented with a resolution declaring May 17 “Shohei Ohtani Day” in the city of Los Angeles for the duration of his Dodger 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,” said Ohtani. “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 16^th 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,” said Stan Kasten, President and CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers. “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 his own manager, Dave Roberts, as he broke the Dodger record for home runs hit by a Japanese-born player.