Shohei Ohtani reaches World Series in first year with Dodgers

LOS ANGELES — When Shohei Ohtani took his first free agent visit to Dodger Stadium last November, the Dodgers wanted to make sure they left quite the impression. After all, Ohtani was the top target for the organization. He had been for a long time.

The Dodgers welcomed Ohtani with his name plastered on the video boards. They walked him through the Minor League system, something the Japanese superstar was interested in. Los Angeles even played an old video of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant trying to recruit him to the Dodgers years ago.

But the most simple part of their pitch was the one that stuck out the most to Ohtani: The chance to be in the postseason every year and have the opportunity to win a World Series title.

After not making the postseason over the course of his six seasons with the Angels, Ohtani finally experienced October baseball this season. Now, following the Dodgers’ 10-5 victory in NLCS Game 6 over the Mets on Sunday night, Ohtani will get a chance to participate in his first Fall Classic.

Arguably the game’s biggest star will now be showcased on its biggest stage.

“The goal was to get this far,” Ohtani said through translator Will Ireton. “I also pictured myself getting this far with the contract that I’ve signed. And, again, just being able to play on this kind of stage with the team effort, and all the games were really hard. But I’m just glad that we’re at this stage right now.”

Ohtani played a big role in allowing the Dodgers to add pieces this winter. Despite signing a historic 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers, Ohtani deferred most of the money, allowing L.A. to have more wiggle room to spend. That allowed the Dodgers to go out and sign the likes of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Teoscar Hernández and Tyler Glasnow (after a trade).

But as important as that was, it pales in comparison to what Ohtani has done on the field this season. Ohtani became the first player in Major League history to hit 50 or more homers and steal 50 or more bases in a single season. He’ll likely claim his third Most Valuable Player trophy next month.

In the postseason, it was Ohtani who got the Dodgers’ offense started, ripping a three-run homer off Dylan Cease en route to helping Los Angeles get past San Diego in the NLDS. Against the Mets, Ohtani hit a pair of homers, including a leadoff drive in Game 4. He also reached base safely 17 times in the NLCS, a new Dodgers record for a postseason series. (Max Muncy matched it by also reaching base 17 times in this series.) And to top it off, Ohtani is 6-for-9 with runners in scoring position in the postseason.

At every turn, Ohtani has risen to the occasion. He joined the 40-40 club with a walk-off grand slam. Ohtani topped that by putting together one of — if not the best — individual games in Major League history to reach 50-50.

This postseason has been no different. It’s what he has always dreamt of. Now we’ll see what he has in store in his first World Series.

“The fact that this is the first October Shohei got to participate in and our Dodger fans get to see him up close and personal in the playoffs,” said Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. “Fans all over the world having this opportunity, I think, is incredibly special.

“It’s exactly what we talked about when we met with him in December. And for this to come to fruition in Year 1 and the ultimate goal this close in sight, I think, it’s really special for everyone.”