Shohei Ohtani Reveals What He Traded Away to Secure First Dodgers Home Run Ball
Shohei Ohtani hit his first career home run as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night against the San Francisco Giants.
After going homer-less in his first 36 at-bats, Ohtani finally connected, and did so in a big way.
Ohtani crushed a pitch 105.6 mph off his bat, and it went 430 feet to deep right field. He said he felt “relieved” after the game, and also revealed that he was able to get the ball back from the lucky fan who caught it.
What Did Shohei Ohtani Give Up for First Dodgers Home Run Ball?
Ohtani said he gave up a bat, a baseball and two caps for the home run ball.
Here’s a video of the lucky fan securing it:
Ohtani was grateful to the fan who gave the ball back to him.
“I was able to talk to the fan and get the ball back,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “Obviously, it’s a very special ball. A lot of feelings toward it. I’m very grateful it’s back.”
The supposed fan posted on social media on Thursday making it known she’s the one who caught the ball:
She also said all items were signed, but that she did not meet Ohtani.
It was a very kind gesture from the fan to give it back to Ohtani, as this first home run ball was clearly special to him. Now that he has his first homer out of the way, he can just focus on continuing to get going at the plate in his first year in Los Angeles.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
It’s nice to give him the ball as that might have been worth something down the road. Only thing I would have asked for differently is for him to give it to me and let me take a picture with him holding the ball and bat.
$700 million & that’s what she got.
100k minimum…if it’s ok for players to get 700mil…then fans should get a very small piece of the pie…for a ball like this..
Traded? I suppose you could call it that. Sounded like the “trade” was bit more than that.
Crazy to think sho did not talk to her and he did not even meet her at all
They should have asked for cash money,off the books, so they too could avoid paying the ridiculous California taxes. I’m thinking $10k at the least.
They should have asked for an illegal payoff? Do you really think a legitimate businessman would agree to that?
I guess Ohtani doesn’t speak English that well so he didn’t meet her. Gave her autographs which could in the future bring a lot of money either way.