NEW YORK — As he went by means of his free-agency course of this winter, Shohei Ohtani laid out his preferences. He needed to affix a workforce that made him really feel comfy, a corporation he may name dwelling the remainder of his profession.

However what Ohtani cared about most was becoming a member of a workforce that might assist him get to the place he hadn’t earlier than. Ohtani had by no means appeared in a postseason recreation. He needed to alter that instantly.

In his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani achieved that. And after the Dodgers’ 7-6 win over the Yankees in Sport 5 of the World Collection, Ohtani can add yet one more feat to his already spectacular resume: World Collection champion.

“I’m honored to have the ability to be a part of a season the place we performed the longest, and to have the ability to get to know this workforce,” Ohtani mentioned by means of interpreter Will Ireton. “My first 12 months and expertise successful a World Collection has been an incredible honor.”

It wasn’t the World Collection efficiency he hoped for, as he went simply 2-for-19 and suffered a left shoulder subluxation in Sport 2. Nonetheless, he was capable of turn out to be simply the 14th participant to win each a World Collection and a Japan Collection.

“We have been capable of get by means of the common season, I feel, due to the power of this workforce, this group,” Ohtani mentioned. “And the success of the postseason is similar to how we have been capable of pull it off through the common season. Once more, the power of the group. Extraordinarily honored to be part of this.”

Even along with his modest manufacturing within the World Collection, the Dodgers wouldn’t have been on this state of affairs with out Ohtani’s contributions all year long. Because the Dodgers handled quite a few accidents all through the season, Ohtani was at all times the constant producer atop the lineup.

“Once you begin supporting a teammate in his first 12 months, like we did, for him to go on the market and have the best season, I feel, of all time,” mentioned Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. “That’s fairly particular.”

“Six years within the States, arguably the perfect participant within the huge leagues. So he dedicated to us, and he needed to play for a championship,” mentioned Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “For it to form of come to fruition in his first 12 months is fairly outstanding. What Shohei’s finished to our ballclub, the Dodger fan base domestically, globally, I simply don’t assume you possibly can quantify.”

As Ohtani celebrated within the Dodgers’ clubhouse on Wednesday, he instructed president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman that he needed to participate within the champagne showers for the remaining 9 seasons of his present deal.

Subsequent season, Ohtani will now not be rehabbing a second Tommy John surgical procedure and will probably be again on the mound, making the Dodgers much more harmful. However no matter what occurs sooner or later, arguably the sport’s largest star will probably be receiving his first World Collection ring subsequent March.

“For him to hoist that World Collection trophy,” Roberts mentioned. “That’s one thing he dreamed of, I’m positive, for fairly a while.”