TORONTO — While most baseball players tip their hats to Shohei OhtaniToronto manager John Schneider wants the two-way star's cap back.
Before signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with Los Angeles DodgersOhtani met with Blue Jays officials on December 4, 2023, at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida.
Ohtani will become the first World Series batter to lead off the defending champion Dodgers against the Blue Jays at Rogers Center on Friday night after his unprecedented performance at the plate and on the mound in the National League Championship Series.
“I hope he brought his hat, the Blue Jay hat that he took from us at our meeting. I hope he finally brought it back,” Schneider said Thursday.
“And a jacket for Decoy,” he added, referring to Otani’s dog, a Netherland Kooikerhondje. “It’s like give us back our things already.”
Ohtani helped the Dodgers to last year's title by hitting .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases.
Returning to pitching in a limited role this season as he returned from elbow surgery, he batted .282 with 55 homers, 102 RBIs and 20 steals, going 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts, striking out 62 in 47 innings.
He struck out three times, pitching six shutout innings and striking out 10 last Friday against Milwaukee as the Dodgers snapped a four-game National League Championship Series.
In Ohtani's absence, the Blue Jays had the finances to deal a first baseman. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. A 14-year, $500 million contract that starts next year that helped Toronto reach the World Series for the first time since 1993.
“He’s a great player,” Schneider said. “But beyond that, I think we have a great team and just an incredible cast of characters and players. I think everything turned out the way it was supposed to.”
Schneider isn't sure how close the Blue Jays are to signing Ohtani.
“When we met with him, you liked it and you liked what he gave about our organization and the opportunities here,” he said. “But you never really know what a player is feeling in free agency, and there are a lot of things that have to come together for him personally, so you can't really think about what if. You're thinking about the 26th player. [players] what we have.”
