Home Base Dilemma: Examining the Location of Dodgers Fandom Should Shohei Ohtani Establish Roots in Los Angeles?

After a hush-hush courtship, Shohei Ohtani signed a record $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023. It remained in line with all things Ohtani-related: The Japanese superstar prefers to keep off-field elements of his life extremely quiet.

He set his own rules for speaking to the media, surprised (and delighted!) the masses with a previously unknown pet dog during his 2023 MVP acceptance, and told teams not to discuss his dealings with them while he was a free agent. More recently, he announced he was married, though the date and his bride remain unknown.

And because his private life is so buttoned up, we have no idea where he lived during his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Scant photo evidence offers a tenuous link to somewhere along the Newport Coast, but we’ve been unable to pin the two-way phenomenon to a particular home.

In a “60 Minutes” interview from 2017, while he was a budding star in Japanese baseball, Ohtani respectfully declined to share details about his life outside the stadium. However, we learned that in the middle of his fifth season starring for the Nippon Ham Fighters, he didn’t own a car and lived at the team’s modest dormitory.

Where should Sho go?

With all the secrecy, speculation runs rampant when it comes to the ways of Sho. So we thought we’d join in and ponder potential landing spots as he preps for his first season at Chavez Ravine.

In terms of amenities, Ohtani’s privacy would be paramount.

“He needs a gated community,” says L.A.-area luxury broker Michael Nourmand, president of Nourmand & Associates. “He’s so famous that I don’t think a gated home is sufficient.”

We also looked for homes in the area outfitted with batting cage facilities. Of course, he can afford to install a full baseball diamond at the house of his choosing, but perhaps he’s in search of turnkey hitting opportunities.

Let’s have a look at some luxurious residences fit for baseball’s biggest name.

25079 Jim Bridger Rd, Hidden Hills, CA

Price: $35,950,000Celebrity enclave: Hidden Hills offers ample privacy behind well-staffed gates. And it’s used to big names.

In fact, this property was once owned by none other than Jennifer Lopez. After J. Lo departed in 2017, the acreage was split and two luxury spec homes were built.

One of those homes was purchased by Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford late last year. The other is still for sale—and it would make perfect sense for the Dodgers’ brightest star to live next door to a franchise QB.

It’s not exactly a humble home, but the price has been cut by $4 million since it debuted on the market in November.

This mansion has never been lived in, is outfitted with a large gym and spa area, and offers large lawns for outdoor activity. Inside, the six-bedroom home offers tranquility and a feeling of Zen, capped by an indoor tree in a bright atrium.

Hidden Hills, CA

(Realtor.com)

24733 Long Valley Rd, Hidden Hills, CA

Price: $15,995,000Baseball beauty: Staying in the celeb-friendly confines of Hidden Hills, we spotted a cheaper option that might appeal to Ohtani.

Built in 1997, this 20,000-square-foot behemoth has plenty of space. Some of the spaces could use an update, but we were focused on the home’s hottest amenity: an indoor batting cage.

And that cage sits next to a home gym that looks like a real-deal fitness center. Ohtani could get in his swings without ever stepping foot outside the nearly 3-acre property.

For studying film on opposing pitchers (and hitters), there’s a plush 13-seat home theater. Downtime could be spent outside by the lovely pool and spa.

Batting cage in Hidden Hills, CA, mansion

(Realtor.com)

27366 Winding Way, Malibu, CA

Price: $7,988,000Coastal charm: While a daily commute from Malibu to Dodger Stadium seems ludicrous at first glance, this option offers a bunch of pluses. Ohtani might have a driver who can shuttle him from the coastline into the maw of L.A. traffic.

And this six-bedroom home in the hills above Malibu offers plenty of privacy. Tucked away at the end of a private access road, this chic compound comprises three distinct structures.

Best of all, the listing notes there’s a batting cage on the 2.5-acre property. No photos of the batting cage were available, so we’ll have to believe it’s worthy of a major leaguer. Ohtani could relax in the gorgeous backyard and enjoy the calming vistas of the Pacific Ocean.

Malibu, CA, backyard

(Realtor.com)

706 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Price: $29,500,000Lean into the 90210 of it all: If you’re going to live in Southern California—and you have $700 million rolling in—embrace your role and follow the stars.

There’s a reason Beverly Hills remains so coveted—and it isn’t because of affordable housing. Heck, Ohtani could go balls out and buy Rod Stewart‘s 90210 mansion for a cool $74 million.

But because this nine-bedroom mansion sits in the flats of the hilly town, it offers a level lot for all sorts of outdoor activities.

It doesn’t have a batting cage—yet. It is outfitted with a tennis court and what looks to be a bocce court that could easily be transformed into an outdoor hitter’s paradise.

Set behind gates and lush landscaping, there’s plenty of privacy and seclusion. And it’s just minutes from world-class shopping and dining options. If Shohei desires the A-list lifestyle, this might be the place.

Beverly Hills, CA, mansion

(Realtor.com)

2538 Monaco Dr, Laguna Beach, CA

Price: $21,995,000Stay in the OC: Maybe we’re going about this all wrong. Ohtani has likely lived in Orange County since he arrived in the big leagues in 2018. So why mess with success?

While we can’t imagine why a well-paid star would want to commute from the OC into L.A., plenty of folks do it each and every day.

If Ohtani has become enamored with life along the South Coast, it might be time to upgrade his living situation.

This five-bedroom home is in the gated Irvine Cove community on the edge of lovely Laguna Beach. Located on the west side of the Pacific Coast Highway, it also comes with a private beach shared by members of this exclusive community.

While the luxe home doesn’t have much of a yard, it offers the indoor-outdoor lifestyle that’s become synonymous with Southern California.

Listing agent Andy Stavros, who has repped a number of professional athletes, says it’s the perfect landing spot for a buyer in search of seclusion.

“It has the views and the beach,” Stavros says. “But it also offers extreme privacy, exclusivity, and discretion.” Three items we imagine are at the top of Ohtani’s wish list.