Shohei Ohtani is a special player, so it’s only natural that he sports a special jersey.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar will resume his pitching duties in the 2025 season after taking a year off while recovering from elbow surgery. But that’s not the only thing that’s new for the Japanese sensation.
As part of a new program from Major League Baseball, in partnership with trading card company Topps and apparel merchant Fanatics, Ohtani will be one of six players this season rocking a special patch on his jersey.
Ohtani, as the reigning 2024 National League MVP, will wear a gold MLB “logoman” patch on the back of his jersey this year, just above the nameplate. The logo is on all jerseys, but typically in the traditional red, white and blue variation.
The other players with the patch will be the other five major award winners from 2024. They include:
- Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees: AL MVP
- Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves: NL Cy Young Award winner (for best pitcher)
- Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers: AL Cy Young Award winner
- Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates: NL Rookie of the Year
- Luis Gil of the New York Yankees: AL Rookie of the Year
The twist on this new program? Each player will be featured on 10 limited edition trading cards that include an authenticated game-worn gold patch from their jerseys, giving fans a chance to find a piece of baseball history.
The special gold patches will also be included on the players’ retail jerseys, meaning that anyone who purchases a brand-new Ohtani jersey this season will have the gold patch on their back.
