Shohei Ohtani News: Angels Two-Way Superstar Joins New Balance on Long-Term Deal
Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is joining New Balance on a long-term deal, per a press release from the company. He's the biggest baseball player to join the company, and will represent New Balance alongside superstars such as the NBA's Kawhi Leonard, the ATP's Coco Gauff and the Premier League's Raheem Sterling. Ohtani is very excited to join New Balance, and hopes to help them "change the game."
"As I continue my journey in baseball I am excited to join the New Balance family," Ohtani said to New Balance per their press release. "New Balance is a global brand that is known for having incredible product innovation but also for being an authentic brand who allows their athletes to be themselves. I am excited to join with them to change the game."
Neil Brooks, the Head of Baseball Sports Marketing for New Balance, shared Ohtani's excitement about the new partnership.
"Shohei is a once-in-a-generation athlete who fits with our larger roster of athletes in their approach to their respective sports," Brooks said per the press release. "Shohei is never satisfied and is constantly pushing himself and his team to be better while letting his on-field performance speak for itself. We look forward to building the relationship and helping Shohei achieve his dreams and in the process truly change the game as we know it."
Ohtani and New Balance are working on a variety of campaigns, beginning with the limited-edition 574 Cleat. Here's what they said about the new campaign, per the press release.
"This will represent the first time the iconic 574 model will appear on the field, bringing the culture of the ballpark and the fashion forward style together. The 574 Cleat matches up in pattern and aesthetic to the 574, however the cleat version includes changes to the interior that ensure this cleat is fit for the field and has all the fit, support and performance elements."
The cleats will go on sale in February, and you can purchase them at www.newbalance.com.
As for Ohtani, he's working as one of the pioneers in baseball for New Balance. Francisco Lindor recently joined the company in 2017, and became the 13th player in MLB history to have his own signature shoe. Ohtani's teammate, Mike Trout, is one of those 13 players, from his partnership with Nike. While Ohtani doesn't have a signature shoe yet, he'll quickly become one of the new faces of the company, right ahead of his upcoming free agency.
In about nine months from now, Ohtani will enter unrestricted free agency in what could turn into the greatest bidding war in sports history. Agents and executives around the game of baseball think he could get a contract upwards of $500 million, and there are at least eight teams expected to be interested.
New Balance locked in the MLB's two-way superstar and 19th unanimous MVP in history ahead of his free agency, and, all year long, Ohtani will be repping their company as everyone awaits his decision on his potential new uniform.
While we don't know what jersey Ohtani is going to don from 2024 on, we at least now know what cleats he'll be wearing. Congrats to Shohei and New Balance on this exciting, new partnership!
