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Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani on cover of MLB: The Show 22

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani on cover of MLB: The Show 22

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim became the first Asian athlete to be featured on the cover of a major video game series in the United States, making history in his short career yet again. Ohtani also became the first member of the Angels to be featured on the cover of MLB: The Show following his historic 2021 season.

The cover reveal was a memorable one, taking place on a large 3D billboard in New York City’s Time Square. 

“I was very excited by the possibility and it actually came true” Ohtani spoke to ESPN through an interpreter. “This game has a lot of history. It’s one of the only baseball games that has been out here, so it makes me want to get better on the field and live up to the hype.” 

Fans can pre-order MLB The Show 22 ahead of its April 4/5 launch, and will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Sho-time

Ohtani’s 2021 season was officially recognized as “historically significant” when he received the commissioner’s rare Historic Achievement award, becoming the first regular two-way player since Babe Ruth: hitting 46 home runs with 100 RBIs and 26 stolen bases to go along with a 9-2 record, 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts. Decorations have come thick and fast as Ohtani earned the AL MVP award, as well as becoming the first player in league history to be an All-Star as both a pitcher and a hitter.

This honor comes at a crossroads for the sport and Ohtani. The game is set to be released on April 5 but there has been no settlement or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between MLB, the owners and the players. As such the sports lockout has stretched for two months with spring training scheduled to begin in two weeks, but 40-man roster players can’t report to practise until a CBA is reached.

Regardless of what the future holds, there is no doubt that Ohtani is enjoying the present. The 27-year-old told GQ Magazine earlier this month that being the face of baseball is “welcoming to me.”

Now he’s the face of the sports’ most recognizable video game. Whenever baseball does  resume, he will likely be the favorite to repeat as AL MVP.

NOTES

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim star and reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani can add another string to his accomplishment bow last week, an Ohtani 1-of-1 Legendary NFT sold for $100,000 on Thursday, setting the record for the largest sale of a baseball NFT.

MLB’s Candy Digital Marketplace has been open since Jan 15, and is the league's “official NFT ecosystem” available for fans to invest in digital collectibles.
 

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