In the offseason, rumors swirled that Shohei Ohtani, one of the most talented baseball players of all time, was considering joining the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent. Reports indicated that Ohtani’s decision was imminent, leading to speculation that he was en route to Toronto for a visit with the team. The excitement grew when it was reported that Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi had made reservations for 50 people at a sushi restaurant in Toronto. Additionally, a plane from Anaheim, California, where Ohtani previously played, was spotted heading to Toronto. Despite these rumors, Ohtani ultimately signed a record-setting $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, disappointing Blue Jays fans who had hoped to see him in Toronto.
After the rumors of Ohtani’s potential visit to Toronto subsided, he made his first trip to the city since the offseason speculation. However, Blue Jays fans expressed their displeasure by booing him intensely. In response, Ohtani hit a mammoth home run during the game, silencing the critics with his performance on the field. Despite the controversy surrounding his decision to sign with the Dodgers, Ohtani has been off to an impressive start in the 2024 season. He leads the MLB in slugging percentage with .681 and has been hitting .354 at the plate. Ohtani is not pitching due to recovering from elbow surgery, but his offensive performance has been outstanding.
In 2023, Ohtani led the majors with a .654 slugging percentage and a 1.066 OPS, solidifying his status as one of the top players in the league. He hit 44 homers, ranked fourth, and maintained a .304 batting average, which was ninth in the league. Ohtani also excelled as a pitcher, finishing the season with a 10-5 record, a 3.14 ERA, and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings pitched. Among pitchers with similar innings pitched, Ohtani’s ERA was the ninth-lowest in MLB, and his strikeouts per nine innings ranked sixth. In the American League, he ranked fifth in ERA and third in strikeouts per inning, showcasing his versatility and skill on both sides of the game.
Despite the controversy surrounding Ohtani’s decision to sign with the Dodgers instead of the Blue Jays, he has maintained his performance on the field and continues to impress both fans and critics alike. The intense boos from Blue Jays fans during his visit to Toronto were met with a powerful home run and a base hit with impressive exit velocity, showing Ohtani’s resilience and ability to thrive under pressure. As Ohtani continues to make waves in the baseball world, his talent and versatility have solidified his reputation as one of the most gifted players in the game, showcasing his ability to excel both as a hitter and a pitcher.
