Shohei Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023, announcing his decision on December 9 and having the contract made official on December 11, 2023.

Key dates

  • December 9, 2023: Ohtani posted on Instagram that he intended to sign with the Dodgers in free agency, which is widely treated as the moment he “joined” them publicly.
  • December 11, 2023: The Dodgers officially announced and finalized his 10-year contract, marking the formal completion of his move from the Angels to the Dodgers.

Simple takeaway

If you are asking “when did Ohtani join the Dodgers” in a general sense, most fans and news outlets point to his Instagram announcement on December 9, 2023; in official transaction terms, the joining date is December 11, 2023, when the contract was completed and announced by the team.

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