Ohtani HRs in 1st at-bat after boos from Blue Jays fans
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani wasted no time reminding Toronto Blue Jays fans what they're missing, hitting a home run in his first at-bat of a three-game weekend series at Rogers Centre on Friday.
Ohtani took Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt deep for a solo shot, his seventh home run of the season.
Shohei Ohtani goes deep in Toronto! pic.twitter.com/qS6ZeAdAc1
— MLB (@MLB) April 26, 2024
The home run came just minutes after Blue Jays fans heartily booed Ohtani during pregame introductions.
Jays fans booed Ohtani after his name was announced for the first time 👀 pic.twitter.com/iibKtuzmsg
— theScore (@theScore) April 26, 2024
"I really do feel that the fans here are passionate, and when they are, that's the kind of reception that they will probably do," Ohtani said through his interpreter following the game, per Sportsnet LA. "I'm just very grateful and respectful that the fans here are passionate just as much as the Dodger fans are with us."
He added that he was not surprised by the reception he received from the fans.
"Aside from how the fans may or may not think, I'm just very grateful for the teams that approached me and wanted to sign me," Ohtani said, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. "Ultimately, I could only choose one team."
Ohtani finished the game 1-for-4 with a pair of runs scored as the Dodgers crushed the Blue Jays 12-2.
The 29-year-old joined the Dodgers on a record-breaking 10-year, $700-million contract in the offseason. His decision came after a whirlwind few days when false reports had him boarding a plane to Toronto and leaning toward joining the Blue Jays in free agency.