Shohei Ohtani experienced a mix of highs and lows recently. The good news? He smashed his 27th home run of the season on Tuesday. The bad news? The powerful hit landed directly on a young fan’s head.
The incident occurred during the seventh inning of the L.A. Dodgers’ 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ohtani launched Justin Martinez’s pitch over 400 feet into the right-field bleachers, a hit that clocked an impressive exit velocity of 112 miles per hour.
Unfortunately, a young spectator bore the brunt of this tremendous force, taking the ball squarely on the forehead as several other fans tried unsuccessfully to catch it.
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There has been no update on the condition of the young fan, but we hope he received medical attention and some ice for the injury.
The timing of Ohtani’s home run is notable, as it came just before he announced his decision to opt out of this year’s Home Run Derby. The Japanese superstar is currently rehabbing an elbow injury and chose to prioritize his recovery.
Given the nature of the incident, it’s likely the Dodgers will reach out to the young fan and possibly offer some team merchandise. However, a meet-and-greet with Ohtani himself, who is often referred to as the $700 million man, would undoubtedly lift the spirits of the young baseball enthusiast.
In the meantime, we wish the young fan a speedy recovery.