This past off-season before it was officially announced – on social media – that the Dodgers had signed superstar future Hall of Famer Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year/$700-million contract, there were reports – on social media – that the extremely popular 29-year-old Oshu, Japan native had boarded a plane and was en route to Toronto, Canada to meet Blue Jays officials to possibly sign with them.

It was later reported by Ohtani himself – on social media – that this was entirely untrue, and that he was resting comfortably on his living room couch in his Southern California home.

As such, when the international superstar stepped to the plate at Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto for his first at-bat against the Blue Jays on Friday evening, he was met by a very loud chorus of boos. We’re talking building-shaking boos here.

How did the extremely popular and extremely soft-spoken Ohtani respond? He hit an 83.2-mph slider from Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassit 360 feet into the Dodgers bullpen in right-center field to give the Dodgers a very early 1-0 lead.

“Looking forward to have my first at-bat in front of a large crowd and that was something I was really looking forward to,” Ohtani told reporters postgame through an interpreter. “Not surprised,” he added, when asked about the boos. He added that he appreciates that the fans at Rogers Centre are as passionate about their team as are Dodgers fans at Dodger Stadium.

“You know, it couldn’t have worked out any better for a Dodger fan, to be received by a bunch of boos and then to homer your first at-bat,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts would later say of Ohtani’s unwarm welcome. “It’s ahh, you know, with Shohei, you just can’t … anything’s on the table as far as, you know, spectacular things. And so… but I was surprised at kind of the reception he got.”

The Dodgers would add 11 more runs in their eventual 12-2 pounding of the ‘Boo’ Jays, including a six-run third inning that saw 11 Dodgers batters come to the plate, including Ohtani twice. (The boos were a bit more subtle during those ABs).

The Dodgers would finish their night with 19 total hits, including a three-run blast to right by third baseman Max Muncy in that fruitful third inning, and a solo home run to right by Dodgers catcher Will Smith in the top of the fourth to give the Dodgers a (then) 8-0 lead.

“The hitting clinic continues,” former Dodger and current broadcaster Rick Monday would say during the AM 570 radio broadcast of the game.

But wait, there’s more.

Ohtani’s boo-induced home run on Friday, was his seventh by a Japanese-born player in Dodgers history, tying him with his manager Dave Roberts:

• Shohei Ohtani – 7
• Dave Roberts – 7
• Hideo Nomo – 4
• Kenta Maeda – 1
• Kazuhisa Ishii – 1

On the other side of the ball, 25-year-old Dodgers right-hander Gavin Stone was nothing short of outstanding in his fifth start of the season, allowing only one run on two hits, while walking two and striking out two in his 7.0 innings pitched, to improve to 2-1 on the young season.

“It’s huge for any pitcher to have a lead like that, especially that early,” Stone said postgame. “Like, we put six runs in the third, and so that gives me a little cushion for, you know, four or five more innings.”

Boo away, Blue Jays fans

Play Ball!

  *  *  *  *  *  *