Signed Shohei Ohtani foul ball from 2021 goes on sale for a whopping $15,000 as Dodgers' newest star goes deep for the first time since signing a $700 million deal in the offseason

Shohei Ohtani's stranglehold on Major League Baseball now extends deep into the collectibles market, where one of his foul balls is being listed for nearly $15,000.

As reported by the Los Angeles Times' Bill Shaikin, an autographed foul ball from 2021 has been put up for sale at $14,995.

'$15,000 and not even a fair ball,' Shaikin noted.

The ball was fouled off by Ohtani during his six-year tenure with the Los Angeles Angels. The at-bat reportedly ended in a strikeout for the two-way star.

Since then, Ohtani has signed a heavily back-loaded $700 million deal with the Dodgers, for whom he hit his first home run on Wednesday night.

An autographed Shohei Ohtani foul ball from 2021 has been put up for sale at $14,995

Ohtani celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting his first home run with the Dodgers 

Ohtani's foul ball comes from the 2021 season, when he was still playing with the Angels 

Playing his ninth game for his new team, Ohtani pulled a 93.2 mph sinker from left-hander Taylor Rogers on the upper, outer portion of the strike zone into the right-center field pavilion. The ball left his bat at 105.6 mph and landed 430 feet from the plate, where it was picked up by a fan.

'Honestly, very relieved that I was able to hit my first homer,' Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. 'It's been a while and honestly my swing hasn't been great. So overall very relieved.'

The home run came in the 41st plate appearance for the two-time MVP.

Ohtani's home run, the 172nd of his major league career, put the Dodgers ahead 5-3. The two-way star is limited to hitting this year following elbow surgery in September and entered in a 3-for-20 slide. He also singled and scored in the second inning, and he is hitting .270 with four RBIs.

Naturally, this home run ball is also a collectible.

Ohtani met the fan who caught his home run ball after the game. He gave the fan a ball, a bat and two hats in exchange for the home run ball.

'Obviously, it's a very special ball,' Ohtani said. 'A lot of feelings toward it. I'm very grateful that it's back.'

Ohtani is currently at the center of a MLB investigation into suspicious wire transactions between his bank account and an illegal California bookmaking operation.

Manfred recently said he hopes MLB's gambling investigation will be short but he isn't sure

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred recently said he hopes the sport's gambling investigation will be short but he isn't sure.

MLB announced its investigation after the Dodgers fired Ohtani's interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well over $1 million. Ohtani said Monday he never bet on sports or knowingly paid any gambling debts accumulated by Mizuhara.

'Given the way the story unfolded, it's important in terms of assuring our fans about the integrity of the game that we verify the things that Mr. Ohtani has said, and it's really that simple,' Manfred said Thursday on the MLB Network.

The IRS has confirmed that Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency's Los Angeles field office.

'It's really difficult for the federal authorities to cooperate with us fully when they have their own ongoing investigation, so I think this is one where we'll have to proceed on our own,' Manfred said.

MLB has limited ability to compel cooperation.

'We never have the kind of authority that law enforcement people have, but we manage to get these investigations done and find the facts and I'm sure we will on this one,' Manfred said.

MLB announced its investigation after LA fired Ohtani's interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara

Asked about the length of the investigation, Manfred said: 'I hope short, but I just don't know.'

Manfred defended the commercial relationships MLB and its teams have with legal gambling companies.

'Sports betting is going to go on in the United States whether we have a relationship with any particular company, any gambling enterprise, or not,' he said. 'I don't think it's unusual to have a set of rules that apply to fans and executives and private citizens out there on the one hand, and players and people who have the ability to affect the outcome of the play on the field.'

'There are all sorts of situations in which you have a privilege, in this case the privilege to play in Major League Baseball, and that comes with a responsibility to refrain from engaging in certain types of behavior, in this case gambling. that are legal for other people,' he added.