Shohei Ohtani is an active MLB player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, with multiple merchandise and sponsorship deals tied to his name, including a Cygames-sponsored Dodgers game and a 1/6 scale figure. He was also named to TIME100 Sports 2026 in the Icons category.
Shohei Ohtani's profile in 2026 is defined by his continued presence as a Dodgers player and his expanding reach into merchandise and corporate partnerships. Cygames, a Japanese game company, signed its first MLB sponsorship with the Dodgers, title-sponsoring a game on September 2, 2026, against the St. Louis Cardinals. As part of the event, Cygames will give away a Shohei Ohtani model 2025 World Series championship ring, commemorating the Dodgers' back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025. The company's name and logo will appear on stadium screens, signage, and materials, and a booth will let attendees experience Cygames content.
Merchandise tied to Ohtani also expanded. McFarlane Toys and Blitzway collaborated on a 1/6 scale action figure of Ohtani in his Dodgers uniform, with preorders open until August 24, 2026, and a December 2026 release. The DELUXE VER. includes both pitching and batting parts, while the STANDARD VER. focuses on batting. Bandai also released a gashapon set, 'MLB TM Capsule Torso Players Edition,' featuring six Japanese MLB players including Ohtani, available in the third week of July 2026 at 500 yen each.
Ohtani's influence was formally recognized when he was named to TIME100 Sports 2026 in the Icons category, alongside Lionel Messi and LeBron James. The list also included esports player Faker, who was introduced as 'widely regarded as the best esports player of all time.' Ohtani's inclusion places him among the most influential figures in global sports.
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Aug 12
Cygames has signed a sponsorship agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers and will title-sponsor the official game "2025 World Series Ohtani Ring Presented by Cygames" at Dodger Stadium on September 2, 2026, local time. The game is against the St. Louis Cardinals, with a scheduled start of 7:10 p.m. local time. As a visitor benefit, Cygames will distribute a Shohei Ohtani model 2025 World Series championship ring, commemorating the Dodgers' back-to-back World Series titles in 2024 and 2025. This is Cygames' first partnership with MLB, though the company has previously sponsored sports events such as the French G1 horse race Prix de Paris. On game day, Cygames' name and logo will appear on the stadium's vision screens, signage, official website, social media, and distributed materials. A booth where attendees can experience Cygames content will also be set up in the stadium's outer perimeter area. Details such as whether Ohtani will play in the game, the ring distribution method, and the number of rings have not been announced.
Aug 8
McFarlane Toys and Blitzway collaborated on a 1/6 scale action figure of Shohei Ohtani in his Los Angeles Dodgers uniform. Preorders run until August 24, 2026. The lineup includes a DELUXE VER. with pitcher and batter parts and a STANDARD VER. focused on batting. Release is scheduled for December 2026.
Jul 9
Bandai is releasing a new gashapon set called 'MLB TM Capsule Torso Players Edition' featuring Japanese players active in MLB, including Shohei Ohtani, Munetaka Murakami, Kodai Senga, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Seiya Suzuki, and Lars Nootbaar. The six-figure lineup will be available in the third week of July 2026 at 500 yen each.
Jun 10
Lee Sang-hyeok, known as Faker, the T1 'League of Legends' player, has been selected for TIME100 Sports 2026 in the Icons category, alongside Lionel Messi, Shohei Ohtani, and LeBron James. Time introduced him as 'widely regarded as the best esports player of all time,' citing his six world championship titles and his role as a symbol of esports industry growth.