NEW YORK (Kyodo) -- The buyer of Shohei Ohtani's historic 50th home run ball is a Taiwanese company, Goldin Auctions LLC said Thursday.

UC Capital Ltd. confirmed Friday that it is the winner of the ball priced at $4,392,000, a record sum for a ball of any sport. The Sept. 19 home run in Miami made the Los Angeles Dodger the only player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a single season.

The investment firm said in a statement it is honored to bring the ball to Taiwan to share the historical moment, while hoping to bring attention to the island and promote its baseball development.

"Shohei Ohtani's influence on baseball around the world will continue to rise in the future, and we firmly believe that this decision is full of significance," it said.

Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball in 1998 for the St. Louis Cardinals was the previous record holder for a baseball at $3,005,000.

Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of the auction house, said earlier on X, formerly known as Twitter, "A lot of people think the baseball is going to Japan. It is not. There were individuals in Japan who were heavily competitive in getting the ball, but they were outbid."

"Four countries participated in the bidding of the baseball. The winner was Taiwan. A corporation in Taiwan, who loves baseball and who loves Shohei Ohtani and who certainly would look to share his treasures with the world, has won the auction," he said.

The CEO added, "Their identity will be revealed in person when they visit Goldin Auctions shortly after the World Series."

Ohtani, who has not pitched this year as he rehabs from September 2023 elbow surgery, is set to play his first World Series from Friday against the New York Yankees.