Description
Shohei Ohtani (29-LA Dodgers) loves Korea. This time, he thrilled fans by raising the Korean flag alongside the Gocheok Dome.
Ohtani arrived at Incheon International Airport at 2:30 p.m. on Friday through Terminal 1.
This is Ohtani's first visit to Korea in 12 years. Ohtani first came to Korea in September 2012 to participate in the World Youth Baseball Championship, where he was considered a top prospect and wowed fans with a fastball that reached nearly 160 kilometers per hour.
Now, nearly 12 years later, Ohtani's stature has soared beyond baseball to become one of the best in the world. In the Major Leagues, where the world's best players congregate, he's excelled as both a pitcher and a hitter. After the 2023 season, Ohtani went on the market to see what he was worth and signed a massive 10-year, $700 million contract with the 토토사이트 Dodgers. It was the largest contract in professional sports history. The previous record was held by Lionel Messi's $674 million deal with FC Barcelona in the Spanish professional soccer Primera Liga.
With so much attention focused on his visit, Ohtani posted a photo on social media before his departure with a Korean flag and the words "I can't wait" in Korean. His wife beamed alongside him. After arriving in Korea, he posted a photo of Seoul from the sky, along with the flag again to show his love for the country.
Ohtani's love for Korea didn't end there. Later that evening, he posted a photo of the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, where he will be playing on the 17th. He also showed off his personal locker. In the post, Ohtani once again flashed the Korean flag.
On March 13, Ohtani posted a photo on his social media account of himself posing in a Korean hand-heart pose with the flag. Even though he hadn't officially started his trip to Korea, he showed his love for the country. Since then, she's included the flag in all of her posts. His love for Korea has warmed the hearts of his Korean fans.