How Much Revenue Does Shohei Ohtani Actually Generate?

Shohei Ohtani’s impact on the field as a two-way superstar is undisputed. Ohtani is a Cy Young-level talent on the mound, hurling 100 mph fastballs and making hitters look silly with his frisbee-like sweepers and devastating splitters. At the plate, he is one of the premier sluggers in the game, winning the Edgar Martinez Award for most valuable designated hitter in the last two seasons. 

The 2021 AL MVP’s impact beyond the field is equally noteworthy. 

Last October, Katsuhiro Miyamoto, renowned economist and Professor Emeritus at Kansai University, released a report on Ohtani’s economic effects in the 2022 season. 

The study found that Ohtani’s economic effects totaled an estimated 45 billion Japanese Yen, approximately 337 million US dollars. 

Miyamoto is a sports economics expert who has previously studied topics such as the economic impact of championship seasons of NPB teams and the economic damage sustained by the Japanese sports industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The bulk of Ohtani’s economic effects came from ticket sales, merchandise sales, Ohtani’s salary and sponsorships, and MLB broadcasting rights related to Ohtani. 

Ohtani’s effect on ticket sales was calculated by hypothesizing the number of fans (both home and away) who attended Angels games because of Ohtani. The total estimate resulted in 631,174 fans, which accounts for roughly ¥6 billion ($45MM) in ticket sales. Ohtani merchandise sales in the US equaled ¥984MM ($7.26MM). 

The ticket and merchandise sales coupled with his salary and sponsorships brought Ohtani’s direct impact on the US economy to ¥19.4 billion ($143.6MM).  

Ohtani’s direct impact on the Japanese economy was calculated through merchandise sales, travel packages for Ohtani games, and appearance fees for TV commercials, which totaled an estimated ¥1.7 billion ($12.55MM). 

In addition to these direct effects on the economy, Miyamoto accounted for primary and secondary economic ripple effects on related industries to calculate the final amount. 

The estimated value of Ohtani’s economic effects in the 2022 season was nearly double that of Ohtani’s groundbreaking 2021 AL MVP season, which was an estimated 24 billion Japanese Yen ($178MM). Miyamoto explained that the increased effect was a result of higher attendance at games in 2022 because of the MVP campaign and inflation.

Miyamoto, who has been conducting similar studies for years, was stunned by the findings. “These numbers are unprecedented for a single athlete,” Miyamoto said. “For example, this [economic effect] is the equivalent of a championship campaign of a popular NPB team like the Yomiuri Giants, Hanshin Tigers, or Softbank Hawks and that is considering a team having about 70 players.”

Ohtani’s economic impact could also be found during Team Japan’s championship run at the World Baseball Classic. In February, before the tournament, Miyamoto stated that Team Japan can generate nearly 59.6 billion yen ($444MM) if they won the tournament. The final number was boosted to 65 billion yen ($484MM) after the tournament by what Miyamoto calls the “Ohtani Effect.” “It took every player’s contribution for Samurai Japan to win the world championship, but this was Ohtani’s tournament,” Miyamoto said.  

It’s possible that the Ohtani’s economic effects in 2023 will dwarf the 2022 estimate. A free agent to-be in the fall, Ohtani is projected to sign the largest contract in MLB history. Earlier this year, he signed a long-term deal with Boston-based apparel company New Balance. In March, Forbes reported that Ohtani will collect $65 million in total earnings, the highest-ever in MLB, for the 2023 season before taxes and agents’ fees.

“We are thankful to live in the same era where we can witness Ohtani’s greatness,” Miyamoto said.