A sports economics specialist says Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Ohtani Shohei will generate more than $770 million in benefits this year.

Professor Emeritus Miyamoto Katsuhiro of Kansai University calculated the economic effect of the popularity of the Japanese two-way player in American Major League Baseball.

He estimates the direct impact at $357 million. This includes the sale of tickets, food, merchandise, sponsorship fees, as well as advertising and broadcast revenue.

Wages at related companies are also likely to rise, boosting consumption and further benefits.

The total amount is more than 770 million dollars. That’s a double jump from last year, when Ohtani played for the Los Angeles Angels.

Miyamoto credits his move to the Dodgers as a major factor behind the surge.

He says Ohtani is creating a social phenomenon, and the benefits are far greater than what a single athlete can normally generate.

In a related development, a US auction house says the ball used to set Ohtani’s record of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases has been sold for $4.4 million, including administrative costs.

The house says this amount is the most ever paid for a home run ball.