Ohtani Booed by Fans in World Series Opener

During Game 1 of the World Series at Rogers Center in Toronto, fans directed loud boos at Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, making his reception notably harsher than that of his teammates.

When he stepped up for his first at-bat and struck out, the crowd’s disapproval didn’t really fade. Ohtani had been a free agent earlier in the winter of 2023 before eventually signing with the Dodgers, after considering the Blue Jays. They had even given him some gifts, a hat, and a jacket for his dog, which led Blue Jays manager John Schneider to joke about wanting them back.

Schneider mentioned, “I hope he brings his hat back.” He also said about the jacket, “It’s like, ‘Give me my stuff back.'” Ohtani smiled at the comments and replied, through an interpreter, that the items were “in my garage.”

As for whether the Blue Jays are close to signing Ohtani, Schneider expressed uncertainty. He noted that, while there was positive feedback from their meeting, one can never be too sure about players’ feelings during free agency. “You can’t really think about what-ifs,” he said, focusing instead on his current team.