Every action of Ohtani Shohei (29, LA Angels) is becoming a hot topic. Now, even the hat worn during the home run ceremony is attracting attention.
Japanese media The Answer reported on the 3rd (Korean time), “The straw hat Ohtani wore after hitting a home run became a hot topic in the US.”
On this day, Ohtani played as the starting third designated hitter in the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) away game against Oakland held at the Oakland Coliseum in California, USA, and recorded 1 hit and 1 RBI in 4 at-bats. In particular, he hit a solo home run in the middle of the 5th inning when the team was leading 5-0. This was Ohtani’s best-selling home run of the season. 안전놀이터
Ohtani, who exploded the cannon, stepped on the home plate while receiving congratulations from the players. He returned to the dugout wearing a straw hat his colleague had given him. However, the logo engraved on the hat he wore became a hot topic in the United States.
Ohtani’s straw hat had the NBA Golden State Warriors logo on it. Coincidentally, San Francisco, the home of Golden State, was an area belonging to the San Francisco metropolitan area along with Oakland, the opposing team that day. Accordingly, NBC Sports California, which was in charge of relaying the game, enlarged the logo of the hat and said, “This is the emblem of Golden State,” and was excited.
Fans are also showing enthusiastic reactions. On social media, comments such as “Ohtani is also a fan of Golden State” and “I wonder if you’re going to try the dual swords of baseball and basketball” are running.
If it was usual, it could have ended with a simple happening. Of course, since Ohtani has one year ahead of his FA (free agent), half-joking, half-seriously, some say, “Isn’t Ohtani coming to Auckland?” Of course, Oakland, a small market, will not aim for Ohtani, but Ohtani’s future can be said to be a hot issue in the major leagues this year.
But Ohtani’s Golden State straw hat didn’t mean much. NBC Sports California said, “This hat is being worn temporarily until the new home run decorations arrive.” “This ornament has not arrived yet, it is neither a hat nor a jacket, it is new.”
Ohtani, who has been in the top three American League MVP finalists for the past two years, including unanimous MVP in 2021, is off to a good start this year. In his first three games at bat, he went 3 hits in 9 at-bats (0.333 batting average) and 1 home run, and on the mound, he pitched well in the opening game on the 31st of last month with 6 innings, 2 hits, 10 strikeouts and no runs.