The Los Angeles Dodgers have become the standard for any organization looking to build and expand its reach in the Japanese market over the years.

Dating back to the addition of Hideo Nomo, through the time of Hiroki Kuroda as a starting pitcher, to the emergence of fan favorite Kenta Maeda, the Dodgers carry a rich Japanese history that has been developing for more than two decades.

However, things have really taken off over the past few years, with the addition of bona fide Japanese star Shohei Ohtani, then subsequently Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.

The results from those three additions, along with the franchise leaning into the Japanese market, have been staggering — SponsorUnited projects that the Dodgers surpassed $200 million in sponsorship revenue, with 20 Japanese brands among their 76 total sponsors.

As a result of the Dodgers’ financial success and on-field achievements, other teams are paying attention and have been quite up front about wanting to replicate their model for overseas expansion.

The Chicago White Sox, who signed Japanese power hitter Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million contract, have seen positive results from tapping into Japan.

Brooks Boyer, the White Sox’s executive vice president and chief marketing and revenue officer, names the Dodgers as a source of inspiration.

“We certainly are not going to get to the Dodgers’ level of things that they do, but we want to craft some partnerships with some Japanese companies to be able to let the country get a chance to see ‘Mune’ in his new home,” Boyer told Sports Business Journal.

“And hopefully we have the brand of baseball that they enjoy watching and they want to follow, because that would certainly add to our sponsors and our reach.”

The Dodgers are helping other teams get into Japan

Additionally, Boyer revealed that Dodgers executive vice presidents Lon Rosen and Bob Wolfe spoke with him about helping guide the organization into their expansion plans.

“They obviously have the unicorn in Shohei, but they have not shied away from teaching us what we should be doing and considering,” Boyer said.

“They’ve been really great with us in giving us a playbook on how to maximize our opportunity here with ‘Mune.’

“What you’ll see is certainly some Japanese companies behind home plate, like you do with any of the other teams that have a prominent Japanese player.

“But we’ll find out if other sponsors are interested in marketing in the local market. We certainly aren’t opposed to that.”

The Dodgers, while constantly being pegged as “bad for baseball,” are bringing eyes and ears to the sport of baseball that have long been ignored.

Dodgers fans should take pride in the standard the organization has set, and the unity the team brings not only across Los Angeles but across the world as well.