Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani wants everyone to know how he feels about the team’s batboy who saved him from an injury crisis on Wednesday.
The incident happened during a game against the Chicago White Sox, when a foul ball was sent flying toward the Dodgers dugout, Fox News reported. report Saturday.
According to Breitbart News, Javier Herrera, 38, who has been a batboy for 20 years, did something no one expected with Ohtani standing behind him.
As the ball came flying toward him, Herrera instinctively caught it with his bare hands. He didn’t seem to care at all about what happened, and video footage shows show Incredible moment:
Batboy casually saved Shohei Ohtani’s life like it was no big deal Stool Baseball pic.twitter.com/dK2UqrV0Xf
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 27, 2024
His action drew praise from everyone, and when Herrera later met with the media, Ohtani took a photo and posted it to his Instagram story with the caption: read“My hero!!”:
Shohei Ohtani yelled at Dodgers ball boy Javier Herrera after he caught a ball flying toward his face.
Herrera spoke to reporters on Friday and Ohtani posted a video of the conversation to his Instagram, calling him “my hero.” pic.twitter.com/aoc2Kk8dXF
— Noah Kamras (@noahcamras) June 29, 2024
Manager Dave Roberts said the team should give Herrera a contract extension and a raise for his bravery, but Herrera didn’t think it was a big deal and seemed to want to keep a low profile.
“I was just doing my job,” he said.
Social media users shared their thoughts on the incredible catch and Ohtani’s reaction. write“No kidding. If I were Ohtani, I’d give that guy a down payment on a house.”
“In my 50 years of life, I’ve never seen a Batboy/Batgirl react so quickly!!!! What a manly man!!” another user CommentedMeanwhile, someone else Said“Give that guy a glove and put him on the field. His reflexes are amazing.”
According to the Fox article, Ohtani was wearing a helmet when the accident occurred, but could still have been seriously injured by the ball traveling at high speed.
“Otani also played a key role in the Dodgers’ 4-0 win over the White Sox, going 1-for-2 with 2 walks, scoring 2 runs and hitting his 25th home run of the season,” the article concluded.
