New Balance cleats worn by Shohei Ohtani in March 2025 Tokyo game listed for auction

A pair of New Balance cleats worn by Shohei Ohtani in the first game of the 2025 Tokyo Series has been listed for auction by The Realest. ESPN reported that the cleats were worn on March 18, 2025, at the Tokyo Dome during the Los Angeles Dodgers' 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs. Ohtani went 2-for-5 with one double in the game.

The cleats carry his Kanji signature, which references his first MLB game played in Japan, and feature an image of his dog Decoy, referred to as Deko-pin, on the heels. The items were consigned by Noram Entry Corporation, the U.S. division of Take to The Universe.

The Realest will donate 1 percent of the final sale price to a contest winner who correctly guesses the winning bid. Scott Keeney, founder and CEO of The Realest, also known as DJ Skee, stated that the cleats represent a rare crossover of baseball legacy, Japanese sports history and sneaker culture. He called them one of the most important pieces of modern baseball footwear ever publicly offered.

293 batting average with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs heading into the MLB All-Star break.