Shohei Ohtani has been appointed baseball game ambassador by Konami Group¡¯s content unit to mark the 30th anniversary of video game series Power Pros and the 20th anniversary of spinoff Professional Baseball Spirits.
The appointment follows Ohtani¡¯s signing of a $700 million 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December. The contract ¡ª the biggest in Major League history ¡ª helped support shares of some of the athlete¡¯s corporate sponsors such as Kose and Seiko Group, while prompting others, such as internet job agency Dip, to recruit Ohtani as brand ambassador.
Konami¡¯s stock price, up 16% since the start of the year, rose as much as 0.8% on Tuesday before paring gains. Shares were down 0.8% in afternoon trade.
Ohtani, who turns 30 this year, was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow in August. The two-time league MVP winner said in a video interview that he underwent physical therapy with a dog he recently took in, named Dekopin.
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