The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly used a 2017 video of Kobe Bryant to convince Shohei Ohtani.
This was reported by ESPN on Friday, six days after the Japanese phenom signed a ten-year, $700 million contract with the Californian organization.
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The late Los Angeles Lakers player did the Dodgers a favor in 2017 when he recorded a video explaining to Ohtani the benefits of joining the club. At that time, the player who excelled on both the bat and the mound made the jump to North America. He ultimately decided to move to the Los Angeles Angels, where he played his first six seasons in the major leagues.
AFP
“That was one of the highlights of our entire meeting,” Ohtani told ESPN. I was really surprised to see that. It was a powerful and touching message.”
Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in 2020, told The Nippon: “There is no better place in the world to win than Los Angeles and no better team to win with in baseball than the Dodgers. “
The basketball player played for the Lakers from 1996 to 2016 and won five NBA championships. Ohtani said he had never met Bryant but was “impressed by the dedication, talent and competitive spirit” of the man who was invited to the All-Star Game 18 times on his circuit.