Blue Jays fan of Shohei Ohtani: “We don’t need you”
“We don’t need you,” Blue Jays fans sang to Shohei Ohtani during his at-bats at Rogers Center
Toronto Blue Jays fans let Shohei Ohtani know it in the World Series. His disapproval for not picking his team in 2023 free agency was still evident Friday night at Rogers Centre.
Before signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the two-way star met with Blue Jays management on December 8, 2023 at the team’s spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida. The manager of Toronto, John Schneiderjoked Thursday that he wanted Ohtani to return a Blue Jays cap and jacket for his dog, Decoywhich was taken after that meeting.
Blue Jays fans were more direct with Ohtani on Friday night, booing him loudly during pregame introductions.
They then chanted “We don’t need you!” while batting in the ninth inning. In that at-bat, he walked and was nearly retired a moment later by left-hander Eric Lauer with two outs. Ohtani was declared safe after video review, but was ultimately stranded on the bases as Toronto sealed the 11-4 victory.
“Don’t poke the bear,” Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt warned of Ohtani’s chants.
Toronto third baseman Ernie Clement said it was all a joke.
“I couldn’t help but laugh,” he said. “We have the guys we have, and the guys we have have done an excellent job. I don’t think we need more than what we have right now.”
George Springer of Toronto said everyone heard the chant.
“At the end of the day, Shohei Ohtani is an incredible baseball player. Whatever team he was on, he would be great. But he’s over there, not here,” Springer said. “He is one of the best baseball players in history, and he has 15 years to live.”
Ohtani showed Toronto fans what they are missing.
With the Dodgers trailing 11-2 in the seventh inning, he hit a powerful two-run homer to right field off Braydon Fisher. It was his fourth home run in two games, after hitting three home runs and striking out 10 as a pitcher in the Dodgers’ National League Championship Series-clinching Game 4 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers. In Game 2, on Saturday, the Japanese went 1 for 4, with one run scored.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.
