BASEBALL’S favorite son from the land of the Rising Sun is to become the biggest deal in baseball.

Shohei Ohtani, 28, has earned the plaudits as a slugger and pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels – becoming a two-time MLB All-Star for the past two seasons.

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is set to become the highest-earning MLB star everCredit: Reuters

Sponsors, including the likes of New Balance, reward him with a whopping $40m-per-yearCredit: Instagram

That is why he is set to handsomely rewarded with an astonishing $30million-per-year salary, on top of an astonishing $40million-per-year in sponsorship.

The $70million windfall will make the Japanese hitter the highest-paid MLB player in history.

But, off the field, Shohei lives a modest life.

In recent years he passed his driving test – splashing $100,000 on a Tesla Model X, that saw him earn praise from Elon Musk.

He is believed to live in a small three-bedroom apartment near Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.

However his romantic life remains private – having been linked with Hawaain beauty Kamalani Dung in the past.

His first love is clearly baseball.

Cars

Before Shohei moved to the US from Japan in 2017, he couldn’t drive.

The extortionate cost of lessons pushed him to focus on his sports career instead.

After passing his test in California, he set about choosing his first car.

At the time his $4million-per-year wage could have given him whatever he wanted.

Shohei went electric. He chose a Tesla Model X, that costs around $100,000.

Tesla creator Elon Musk showed his appreciation on Twitter, when a photo emerged of the baseball hero arriving at Angels Stadium in the luxury SUV.

Replying to a tweet that alerted Musk to Shohei’s drive, he responded with a series of heart emojis.

When Ohtani passed his driving test, he bought a $100k Tesla Model X

Recently, Ohtani became an ambassador for Porsche in Japan

Sponsors

Endorsements are where Shohei is making serious dollar.

His personal partners include Hugo Boss, Fanatics, Oakley, Panini, Topps, Mitsubishi Bank, Seiko and Kowa.

In 2021, he signed a multi-million dollar deal with New Balance.

While he teamed up with Porsche in Japan to test-drive a $122,000 911 Carrera T – confessing it was the first time he had been behind the wheel of a luxury supercar.

Officially, he is baseball’s most bankable star.

“He’s absolutely a priority,” MLB chief marketing executive Karin Timpone revealed last year.

“As a strategy broadly, there are a host of players that have the ability to tell a story not just to the core fans who are into the season but somebody who wants to maybe watch or go to more games.

“He’s definitely in that category of folks that we want to engage and reach out. And this is just the start with him actually.”

Hugo Boss are one of Ohtani’s many sponsors

Ohtani wears Seiko watches, after developing a partnership with the watch brand

Home

Modest Ohtani hasn’t splashed out on a big property yet, according to reports.

When he moved to LA some six years ago, he went straight from his Japanese team’s dormitory.

For that reason he lives modestly. It is believed he lives in a three-bedroom apartment a stones throwaway from Angels Stadium.

“My room is really big,” he told the LA Times back in 2018.

“I have a three-bedroom apartment, and I feel kind of lonely by myself in such a big place,’’ he added.

Living close to Angels Stadium has let him focus on his baseball, which is how he is believed to prefer it.

Modest Ohtani lives in a three-bedroom apartment near Angels StadiumCredit: AP

Rumoured girlfriend

When it comes to his private life, Ohtani is very discreet.

He was linked with softball star Kamalani Dung, who is also a model and actress.

However, those rumours appear to be unfounded – despite the pair happily posing for a snap together, when she visited Angels Stadium.

Dung is reportedly a big fan. But, she is taken.

The beauty has dated Hawaii-based musician Dillon Pakele.

As it stands, Ohtani is said to be single.

Ohtani was linked with Hawaiian beauty Kamalani Dung

Dung is a star in softball and is also model

When it came to settling in with his new team-mates, it was a video game that helped bond him with his new team.

In the clubhouse, Ohtani got Angels stars hooked on Clash Royale.

According to ESPN, he was the best in the team.

Amusingly, he would multi-task – eating his lunch while dominating his opposition.

Personal interpretor

Everywhere Ohtani goes, his right-hand man Ippei Mizuhara goes.

Mizuhara is his personal interpreter, who accompanies the designated hitter at practice –  making sure Ohtani understands, and is understood.

He is also his confidante, preparing his agenda — meaning his preparation, play, recovery, media availability, breaking down advanced analytics and recovery timetables between Ohtani and the Angels organisation.

Ippei Mizuhara is Ohtani’s right-hand man, confidante and translatorCredit: Getty Images – Getty

They have known each other for the best part of a decade.

Mizuhara ensures Ohtani keeps his feet on the ground, despite his rapid ascent.

It’s ascent that knows no bounds, as Ohtani cements his name in the annals of MLB history.