“What a tempering,” 48,000 Otani temptations, “Come to Seattle!”

“Come to Seattle! Go, go, go!”

The chant started by a handful of spectators echoed throughout the stadium within minutes. All 48,000 people in attendance at T-Mobile Park began to join in, and the chant’s leader, Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels), struck out and walked to the dugout with a smile on his face.

메이저사이트It was a memorable experience for Ohtani at the All-Star Game. Starting as the No. 2 designated hitter for the American League All-Star team at the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game on Wednesday, Ohtani received an unusual “pre-contact” courtship from the 48,000 fans in attendance.

Ohtani, who will become a free agent after this season, is a “hot commodity” in the upcoming free agent market. With a .302 batting average, 32 home runs and 71 RBIs as a hitter this year, and a 7-4 record, 3.32 ERA and 132 strikeouts through the first half of the season as a pitcher, Ohtani is the favourite to sign a contract worth more than $600 million this winter for the first time ever. The most expensive contract in MLB history is Ohtani’s teammate Mike Trout’s 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Angels.
He’s a player any team would covet if they had the money. The All-Star Game was being played at Seattle’s home stadium, T-Mobile Park, and the Seattle fans who packed the stadium chanted “Come to Seattle” at Ohtani. Coincidentally, the American League All-Star team’s uniforms were the same colour as Seattle’s alternate uniform, Northwest Green.

Zach Gallon (Arizona Diamondbacks), who faced Ohtani in the first inning, was also confused. “I thought, ‘If I give up a home run to him, the stadium is going to explode,'” he said, according to MLB.com.

After the game, Ohtani told MLB.com, “I’ve never experienced anything like this, but I definitely heard (the crowd chants),” adding, “I was just trying to focus on the at-bat and the game. The fans here are always so passionate, it’s very impressive.”
Ohtani also spoke about Seattle at the last All-Star Media Day, saying, “I spent about two offseasons in Seattle. I think I spent about four months in total. I felt that Seattle was a really good city. I really liked it.” It remains to be seen if his courtship of Seattle fans will work.

Meanwhile, in the All-Star Game, the National League All-Stars defeated the American League All-Stars 3-2. This snapped the American League All-Stars’ nine-game winning streak. Elias Diaz (Colorado Rockies), who hit a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to give the National League All-Stars the win, was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the All-Star Game.