Shohei Ohtani homers for the first time as a Dodger, gets ball back from fan
It took nine games, but Shohei Ohtani finally has his first official home run in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform.
Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million free agent contract with the Dodgers this past offseason, took a 3-1 fastball from San Francisco Giants reliever Taylor Rogers and deposited it 430 feet into the bleachers in right center field, much to the delight of the 52,746 in attendance Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Ohtani's blast provided the winning margin in the Dodgers' 5-4 victory, capping a three-game sweep of their arch-rivals.
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Ohtani finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and is hitting .270 for the season.
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After the game, Ohtani told reporters that he was able to get the home run ball back from the fan who caught it in the stands. And all the trade required: two caps, a bat and another baseball.
"I was able to talk to the fan and get the ball back," Ohtani said via his new interpreter, Will Ireton. "Obviously, it's a very special ball. A lot of feelings toward it. I'm very grateful it's back."