Adrian Gonzalez Reveals Dodgers Were Behind Viral Moment Between Him and Shohei Ohtani in 2016

Former Dodger gifted a care package to Shohei Ohtani in Japan before the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were following Shohei Ohtani's career long before he arrived in Major League Baseball with the Angels.

In 2016, Andrew Friedman asked Adrián González to bring a care package to the Japanese baseball star. González was playing for Team Mexico and traveled to Japan for a few games against Team Japan before the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

González detailed the viral moment in an interview with AM 570 Radio.

"Ohtani was playing in that tournament and so Andrew (Friedman) and company said, 'Hey, if we give you a care package for him, will you present it to him because we cannot pursue him? It's against the rules, but you as a person can obviously take whatever you want to any player.'"

Adrián González talks about the time he handed a #Dodgers duffle bag to #ShoheiOhtani back in 2016 ⚾️
(via @THEREAL_DV)

Full interview: https://t.co/DckqTCy767 pic.twitter.com/salvXJ3bL6

— AM 570 LA Sports (@AM570LASports) January 23, 2024

The former Dodger presented the bag to Ohtani along with a personalized Mexico jersey.

What a great detail from @Adrian_ElTitan to Japan's star, Shohei Otani, by giving him his autographed jersey with a message included. pic.twitter.com/JDVcmG16X8

— Puro Beisbol (@purobeisbolmx) November 12, 2016

In return, Ohtani gifted González with a signed jersey of his own, and the retired first baseman has it at his home.

Major League Baseball did warn the Dodgers about potentially tampering with Ohtani but there wasn't a punishment.

The Dodgers didn't get Ohtani the first time around despite González's best efforts, but they have the two-way superstar now and that's what matters for the next 10 years.