SI

Shohei Ohtani Silences Boos From Blue Jays Fans With Monster Home Run

Patrick Andres

Apr 25, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.
Apr 25, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani. / Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
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Toronto Blue Jays fans found themselves on the losing end of one of baseball's most closely watched free-agent sagas this past offseason.

Speculation connecting designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani to the Blue Jays abounded. Drake got involved. Memorably, MLB Network's Jon Morosi incorrectly reported that Ohtani was on a flight to Toronto on Dec. 8—for which he later had to apologize.

When Ohtani agreed to a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto fans were understandably upset. On Friday, the Dodgers' first game against the Blue Jays since December's events, Toronto fans at Rogers Centre let him have it ahead of his first at-bat.

Ohtani casually replied with a long home run to deep right field, staking Los Angeles to a 1–0 lead.

For all the tumult in Ohtani's life off the field this year, his play has not suffered. The two-time AL MVP is slashing .358/.419/.670 with six home runs and 16 RBIs.

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Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .

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