Usually booed by the crowd at T-Mobile Park as the star player of a division rival Seattle Mariners, the excellent Shohei Ohtani received a diametrically opposite reception on the sidelines of the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Angels pitcher and designated hitter came to the plate to cheers, in part because he’s an American League Baseball representative.
But most importantly, Mariners fans wanted to let the 29-year-old Japanese know that he would be welcome in a turquoise uniform next year, should he test the freelance market.
Songs » Come to Seattle! echoed as Ohtani took his first turn at bat, walking San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb.
“I’ve never experienced a situation like this… But definitely, I heard. I was just trying to focus on being at bat,” Ohtani said afterwards.
From 2001 to 2012, the Mariners had the biggest star in Japanese baseball before Ohtani, outfielder Ishiro Suzuki, author of 3,089 hits.
“Every time I come (to Seattle), the fans are passionate, they’re really into the game. It is very impressive. In fact, I’ve already spent the offseason in Seattle a few times. I love the city; she is superb,” he praised.
A 2022 All-American MVP finalist, Ohtani has a serious head start for the title this year.
Leading in home runs in the Majors (32) at the break and third in RBIs (71), Ohtani also has the 24th best earned run average, at 3.32 after 17 starts.
He also tied for fourth in MLB in strikeouts recorded, at 132.
2023-07-12 03:44:17
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