Deciphering the Shohei Ohtani free agency frenzy feels like it requires a translator, given the recent twists and turns.
A captivating plot twist unfolded with the mistaken report that Shohei Ohtani was en route from Los Angeles to Toronto on a private jet. It turned out that the true occupant of the plane was none other than Robert Herjavec, the Canadian entrepreneur and renowned investor from ABC’s “Shark Tank.”
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Herjavec took the mix-up in good spirits, sharing a photo on Instagram of himself donning a Blue Jays uniform along with a playful caption.
“I’d like to thank the @bluejays organization for signing me today!” Herjavec wrote in the caption. “All joking aside – I’m not @shoheiohtani and he was not on my plane today! Not sure how it all started, but I’m calling the Jays and seeing if they’ll sign my 5-year-old for 600 mil (he WAS on the plane and throws a mean pitch).”
In addition to the Shark Tank star going viral, the spotlight has shifted to Shohei Ohtani’s translator, Ippei Mizuhara, who has become a trending figure on social media.
Mizuhara has played a crucial role in baseball and beyond, serving as Ohtani’s interpreter since the Japanese player was posted to MLB by NPB’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters after the 2017 season.
Despite undergoing elbow surgery and being unable to pitch in 2024, the 29-year-old Ohtani, who hit 44 home runs with a 1.066 OPS last season, remains a sought-after talent. He plans to return to hitting next season and aims to resume pitching in 2025.
The Ohtani sweepstakes has turned into a unique MLB free agency saga, with reporters fiercely competing for scoops on his potential landing spot. As the drama unfolds, predicting who will trend next is anyone’s guess.
