Shohei Ohtani fever drives $150m windfall from MLB Seoul Series

Dodgers' Japanese superstar a huge draw for South Korean baseball fans

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A customer checks out Ohtani merchandise March 19 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. (Photo by Tetsuya Fujita)

TETSUYA FUJITA, Nikkei Seoul bureau chief

SEOUL -- Major League Baseball's tour through Thursday in Seoul is expected to produce a financial boon locally thanks largely to the appearance of Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani.

The Seoul Series likely will yield an economic impact topping 200 billion won ($150 million), South Korea's Maeil Business Newspaper estimates. The games also represent Ohtani's debut with the storied Los Angeles Dodgers franchise after six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.

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