Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.

Ohtani took a huge pay cut to move to MLB as a 23-year-old rather than waiting to make the jump at 25 when he could have raked in many times his Japan salary.Expectations for the former are going to be high now.

when then-manager Joe Madden let Ohtani bat every day.the Dodgers have combined a solid player development program with liberal spending to churn out 10 National League West titles over the past 11 years without any help from Ohtani.(MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS/Rafu Shimpo)Rafu Staff and Wire Service ReportsIn the end.

but also of a rare confluence of circumstances that allowed him to defy professional baseballs belief that success as both a pitcher and hitter was impossible.This is amazing – I wish it was baseball season now so I could see him play.

(Photo courtesy Mike Gin)In signing with the Dodgers.

despite missing the Angels final 25 games after injuring his right oblique while taking batting practice at Angel Stadium on Sept.while manager Hideki Kuriyama offered Ohtani something no one else would – a unique opportunity to both hit and pitch in pro baseball.

offered fertile ground for his development as a hitter.He was a unanimous selection as the American Leagues Most Valuable Player in 2021 after hitting 46 home runs and posting a 9-2 record as a pitcher.

the team never posted a winning record nor reached the postseason.the Dodgers had Ohtani jerseys available for pre-order at their official retail outlets by Monday afternoon.