Unlike many celebrity figures, Shohei Ohtani is one for the fans. Not only does he command a good fan following in Japan, but even in the stands, they can't keep calm and want to get their gears signed by the two way star. And Ohtani being Ohtani never denies them.
On Sunday, ahead of the Dodgers game against the Cincinnati Reds at Chavez Ravine, fans were asking for Ohtani. Once Ohtani reached there, he could not sign their gears because of the steel cage ahead of him.
The designated hitter then asked nearby security to open the area so that he could sign their gear.
There are many such fan moments that Shohei Ohtani has been a part of in recent years. Let's take a look at one more heartwarming gesture by him.
Shohei Ohtani gifts young fan with first-pitch and game tickets on his bobblehead night
Last Thursday turned out to be a festival in Chavez Ravine as many Dodgers fans came in huge numbers to celebrate Shohei Ohtani's first bobblehead night of the season. The first 40,000 fans received special bobblehead and 1,700 of them received a special gray version (Dodgers away jersey) of it.
Ahead of the game, Ohtani met Albert, a pediatric patient at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. Ohtani greeted him with his bobblehead, invited him to throw the first pitch and also gifted him suit tickets for the game. Before leaving the area, Ohtani posed with other young friends of Albert.
Even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his awe for Ohtani's fanbase.
“Shohei creates a stir,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game (via Informnny). “I can’t imagine what it’s like outside. It’s great for Shohei and it’s good for the Dodgers. It’s going to be a hot ticket item. The more I see him every day the more I realize how special of a person and a ballplayer he is.”
Prior to the game, a bobblehead was placed in each Dodgers player's locker. This was the first of three nights when the Dodgers will give away Shohei Ohtani bobbleheads.