Watch: Shohei Ohtani gets hit on bobblehead night by Brent Suter while trying to steal second base
The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated Shohei Ohtani's first bobblehead night after the two-way star signed with the club earlier this offseason. The excitement at Chavez Ravine was one to behold, with long lines ahead of the entry gates to become among the first 40,000 to get their hands on the exclusive bobblehead.
On the special occasion, when Ohtani took to the plate on Thursday night, he received a warm cheer from the home crowd and he delivered. Up against Cincinnati Reds' Brent Suter, Ohtani ground out a walk.
With next-at-bat Freddie Freeman on the plate, Suter checked up on Ohtani at first base. He threw a ball at first in an attempt to catch Ohtani short. However, the throw was deflected by Ohtani's left leg. After the play, Ohtani could be seen grimacing in pain as Dodgers fans got behind him. However, he stayed in the game.
As of now, entering the fifth inning, the Dodgers are trailing 3-0 with Tyler Glasnow pitching from the mound. Will Benson scored a leadoff home run to give the Reds an early lead.
Shohei Ohtani delights young fan with suite tickets, first pitch invitation and a special bobblehead
Albert, a pediatric patient at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, was greeted by Shohei Ohtani at a pregame event. Ohtani gifted him his Dodgers-signed jersey, a signed baseball as a souvenir and the first bobblehead of the night.
He also invited him to throw the first pitch tonight and hooked him up with suite tickets to enjoy the game.
The excitement around Dodger Stadium was one to behold, with thousands of fans turning up in huge numbers to celebrate and participate in Ohtani's bobblehead night. Parking lines were jammed and people could be seen in line even before the gates opened:
“Shohei creates a stir,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game (via Informnny). “I can’t imagine what it’s like outside. It’s great for Shohei and it’s good for the Dodgers. It’s going to be a hot ticket item. The more I see him every day the more I realize how special of a person and a ballplayer he is.”
The Dodgers have three Shohei Ohtani bobblehead nights, the first of which was on Thursday.