The Dodgers find themselves on the verge of a significant return on their hefty investment, not through merchandise sales or advertising, but on the field of play.
After spending around a billion dollars to secure talents Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a victory on Thursday could put the Dodgers just one win away from the World Series. Yamamoto is set to pitch, with Ohtani leading the offense, creating a formidable challenge for opposing teams.
“It will be tough if those two guys are firing,” said Dodgers infielder Max Muncy, referencing the challenges the Dodgers pose to the New York Mets, especially considering their 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers have displayed dominant performances in this series, winning 9-0 in the first game and 8-0 in the third. They are currently leading all postseason teams in home runs, highlighted by a powerful shot from Ohtani in Wednesday’s game that turned a 4-0 lead into a 7-0 advantage.
Ohtani noted, “Runners packed the bases in that inning and created a good flow,” after his upper-deck home run followed a walk and a single from teammates.
Despite the pressure surrounding Ohtani, who is batting .226 and has struggled to find form with no hits in 22 at-bats without runners on base this postseason, Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts offered reassurance to fans.
“I have no idea why people are talking about Shohei,” Betts remarked. “He’s the best player on the field every day. There’s no need to worry about him.”
Regarding Yamamoto’s capabilities, Betts added, “His stuff is good. His head is good. Everything is good.”
Austin Barnes, the Dodgers’ backup catcher, witnessed firsthand the capabilities of Ohtani and Yamamoto during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In a pivotal game against Mexico, Ohtani and Yamamoto were instrumental in Japan’s comeback victory, with Ohtani scoring crucial runs and Yamamoto stifling the opposing offense.
“They are special talents,” Barnes said. “They don’t have to put pressure on themselves to be anything more than they are. We have a really good team around them.”
As the Dodgers aim for a place in the championship game, the start of the World Series for this year will hinge on whether the league championship series extends beyond five games. If all goes well for Yamamoto and if either series doesn’t conclude quickly, he may find himself starting Game 1 of the World Series, showcasing the impact of the investment made in him.
Fans can purchase jerseys and merchandise, but the true return on investment comes from a chance to compete for the title in the Fall Classic.