WATCH: Is Shohei Ohtani A Puka Nacua Fan?
Newly signed L.A. Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has been the talk of Los Angeles this week, after making an appearance during the Rams' critical 30-22 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football.
After signing his 10-year $300 million deal with the Dodgers, Ohtani showed up in support of the Rams, even getting his own Jersey in a special introduction at SoFi Stadium.
Ohtani, who will wear the No. 17 with the Dodgers, was given a Rams No. 17 jersey as well - also the same number as rookie star receiver Puka Nacua.
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Suffice it to say, Nacua was a big fan of Ohtani wearing his number during the game. "That's dope!" Nacua could be seen saying in a video released by the Rams Ohtani wearing the No. 17 during the game.
And it should come as no surprise that Ohtani - one of the MLB's best players of the generation - is a fan of the young rising star receiver.
As of Thursday night, Nacua has 96 catches for 1,327 yards and five touchdowns. For context, he now sits fifth all-time in terms of most productive rookie campaigns behind Bill Groman, (1960), Ja'marr Chase (2021), Justin Jefferson (2020), and Anquan Bolden (2003).
And if Nacua holds up his average of 88.5 yards per game over the last two weeks of the regular season, he will eclipse Groman (1,473 yards) for the most receiving yards all-time by a rookie wideout.
Outside of their jersey numbers, Nacua and Ohtani also share some common ground, with the pair both starting their careers in their respective sports in Los Angeles - Ohtani with the Angles at 23 years old and Nacua with the Rams at age 22.
Ohtani won't pitch for the Dodgers in 2024 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, but he homered 44 times and drove in 95 runs in just 135 games for the Angels this past season, so his bat alone will be worth the price of admission.
For what it's worth, however, L.A. sports fans will still have an exciting young star to watch in the meantime in Nacua while they wait for Ohtani to recover.
