In the offseason, Toronto Blue Jays fans were teased with a false report of Shohei Ohtani flying to visit their team in free agency. Fans would then see him sign his monster contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving them frustrated.
Now, Ohtani and the Blue Crew are in Toronto for the first time this season, and fans still feel a certain way about his decision. The reigning AL MVP was met with large boos as he stepped up to the plate on Friday.
However, Ohtani did not let those boos get to him. He crushed a first-inning solo shot straight to right field, giving his club the early lead.
Watch the clip below:
Ohtani's home run went 360 feet, quickly quieting the Toronto fans. He now has seven home runs on the year, which ranks him tied for fourth in the league with his former teammate Mike Trout leading the way with 10.
Shohei Ohtani has been an extra-base hit monster this year
With Shohei Ohtani's seventh home run on Friday, he has 22 extra-base hits this season and is starting to run away with the lead. Kansas City Royals slugger Bobby Witt Jr. ranks second with 16.
Outside of the seven home runs, Ohtani has a league-leading 14 doubles and a triple to his credit. There is no denying the slugger has been seeing the ball well this season. He is on pace to crush his career-high of 30 doubles that he accomplished during the 2022 season.
His performance so far is incredible given everything he has gone through in the offseason and the scandal involving his former interpreter. Now that the Ippei Mizuhara situation has been handled, do not be surprised if he goes nuclear at the plate.