In Photos: Shohei Ohtani spotted sporting unreleased kicks following mega $5 million deal with New Balance

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani was seen wearing unreleased New Balance shoes as he arrived in Texas after signing a new long-term contract worth at least $5 million with the shoe company.

In the photos, Ohtani appeared casual in a grey co-ord set, headphones, and the unreleased New Balance shoes.

"Shohei Ohtani arriving in Texas today wearing unreleased New Balance shoes." - MLB Life

The value of Ohtani as a brand has been on the rise in recent years, and his fame has become a valuable marketing tool for various brands.

Los Angeles Angels v Texas Rangers

New Balance will utilize Ohtani's reputation to promote its clothing division, which recently underwent a $5 billion expansion.

Shohei Ohtani's New Balance contract compared to other MLB stars

Ohtani has a large number of sponsorship deals when compared to other MLB players. He surpasses Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Aaron Judge, who all make between $50 and $60 million, with a total net worth of $70 million. However, the majority of these players' income comes from their salary.

The Japanese athlete outperforms Mike Trout and Cody Bellinger, who both make over $5 million annually from endorsement deals with companies like Under Armour, Adidas, and Nike.

Ohtani won the 2016 Japan Series while playing for the Fighters in the NPB from 2013 to 2017. After the 2017 campaign, the Fighters released Ohtani and he joined the MLB, signing with the Angels and promptly winning the 2018 American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award.

He has since gone from strength to strength and is now one of the best players in the league.