2 weeks ago
For a small while successful nan offseason, Toronto Blue Jays fans thought they were getting arguably nan astir talented shot subordinate of each time.
Shohei Ohtani was a free supplier successful nan winter, and rumors swirled he was en way to Toronto for a sojourn pinch nan team.
It each started erstwhile it was reported by MLB Network that Ohtani's determination connected his adjacent squad was "imminent."
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Shohei Ohtani of nan Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates a solo location tally pinch teammates successful nan dugout during nan first inning of a crippled against nan Toronto Blue Jays astatine Rogers Centre April 26, 2024, successful Toronto. (Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Then, a station connected X, formerly Twitter, went viral that said Blue Jays' Japanese pitcher Yusei Kikuchi made reservations for 50 group astatine a Toronto sushi spot. But nan large bolt came erstwhile Reddit users found location was a plane from Anaheim, California, wherever Ohtani played nan erstwhile six seasons, connected its measurement to Toronto.
MLB Network past reported that Ohtani was en way to Toronto, and different rumor swirled that nan Blue Jays had called a property conference.
Those reports were quickly debunked, though, and Ohtani yet stayed successful confederate California, switching to nan Dodgers connected a record-setting $700 cardinal deal.
Ohtani made his first travel to Toronto this play since nan level rumors, and fans made their displeasure known by booing him intensely.
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How did he answer? By hitting a mammoth location run, of course.
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For nan record, nan level successful mobility really belonged to Canadian businessman Robert Herjavec of "Shark Tank."
Shohei Ohtani of nan Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo location tally during nan first inning of a crippled against nan Toronto Blue Jays astatine Rogers Centre April 26, 2024, successful Toronto. (Cole Burston/Getty Images)
The boos continued Saturday, and he answered pinch a guidelines deed that near nan bat astatine astir 120 mph, his hardest deed ever recorded.
Entering Saturday, Ohtani was disconnected to his champion commencement ever offensively, hitting .354 pinch an MLB-leading .681 slugging percentage. He is not pitching arsenic he recovers from elbow surgery.
He led nan fields successful 2023 pinch a .654 slugging percent and 1.066 OPS, his .412 on-base percent was 2nd successful nan league, his 44 homers were 4th and his .304 mean was ninth.
Shohei Ohtani (17) of nan Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates astatine nan sheet pinch Max Muncy arsenic he scores connected a Freddie Freeman azygous successful nan 3rd inning of a crippled against nan Toronto Blue Jays astatine Rogers Centre April 26, 2024, successful Toronto. (Cole Burston/Getty Images)
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Ohtani was besides superb connected nan mound, going 10-5 pinch a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts successful 132 innings pitched. Among pitchers who threw 130.0 innings, his ERA was nan ninth-lowest successful MLB and his K/9 was sixth. Among AL pitchers pinch that number of innings, he classed 5th and third, respectively.
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