The beloved (yet suddenly) controversial Shohei Ohtani made headlines on Wednesday when he blasted his first career home run as a Los Angeles Dodger.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Ohtani took San Francisco Giants reliever Taylor Rogers deep with a 430-foot bomb.
The homer helped the Dodgers edge past their hated in-state rivals by a final score of 5-4.
Shohei Ohtani crushes his first home run as a Dodger! pic.twitter.com/Riq4vqqeDr
— MLB (@MLB) April 4, 2024
However, the home run itself wasn’t the biggest story of the night.
Ohtani understandably wanted the ball back. After all, it was his very first home run as a Dodger and it’s a ball that has significant sentimental (and monetary) value.
The luckiest fan in the world comes up with the ball after Shohei Ohtani’s first home run at Dodger Stadium 👏
🎥: @SportsNetLA pic.twitter.com/wBBdYCiWlP
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) April 4, 2024
Sure, enough he got the ball back from the fan that caught it – Ambar Roman.
Roman, identified through the home SportsNet LA broadcast, emerged as the lucky recipient of the home run ball.
However, she disclosed to The Athletic that she received minimal compensation for returning the ball to Ohtani and the Dodgers organization.
The fan that caught Shohei Ohtani's first Dodgers home run received a signed bat, ball & two hats.
But the fan and her husband say the Dodgers separated them, refused to authenticate the ball & pressured her into a quick deal.
Here's what they told me: https://t.co/PnnSywQBiq pic.twitter.com/MXjn1RbrgU
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) April 4, 2024
“I felt like they took advantage of me,” Roman expressed, alongside her husband Alexis Valenzuela. “There were so many people around, and they wouldn’t let us leave. It was as if we were cornered.”
JUST IN: We interviewed the fan who jumped on and recovered Shohei Ohtani’s first @Dodgers home run baseball. The team gave her 2 signed hats, a signed baseball, and signed Ohtani bat… in exchange for the home run ball. Hear her story tonight on @FOXLA #MLB pic.twitter.com/MtfezGmbaV
— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) April 4, 2024
Ohtani told reporters after the game that he was very grateful to get the ball back.
“Obviously, it’s a very special ball … A lot of feelings toward it. I’m very grateful that it’s back,” he said.
Shohei villain arc growing…
— Stoolies🏴☠️ (@SpacesStoolies) April 5, 2024
Roman reportedly received a bat, two signed Dodgers hats and a signed baseball in exchange for the special home run ball.
Although she felt pressured to give the ball back, she seemingly did not understand just how valuable the ball was – or that she had full leverage in the negotiations for it.
Team officials told Roman that they would refuse to authenticate Shohei Ohtani's first Dodgers home run baseball if she refused to accept a trade.
"It was a lot of pressure.”
More details ⤵️https://t.co/Z2k04CS8kR
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 4, 2024
While Ohtani’s 172nd career home run might not be a milestone in itself, it had significant monetary value due to it being his very first as a Dodger – especially since he signed a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million deal with LA.
A representative from an auction house suggested that the ball could have potentially fetch upwards of $100,000.
Comparatively, a fan who caught Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run in the 2022 season auctioned it for $1.5 million.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
After declining a $3,000,000 offer for Aaron Judge’s 62nd Home Run ball, Corey Youmans elected to send the ball to auction.
Well that auction just ended and…
It sold for $1,500,000. pic.twitter.com/OelZ5d6ZVu
— The Collectibles Guru 🧠 (@ericwhiteback) December 18, 2022
Roman and Valenzuela further alleged that the Dodgers threatened not to authenticate the baseball if she decided to retain it, significantly diminishing its potential value.
The Dodgers responded to the accusations, stating they are open to further discussions regarding the ball.
Roman, despite feeling pressured, expressed no regrets, especially considering the authenticity concerns.
Imagine catching Shohei Ohtani's first Dodgers home run ball, and settling for a signed bat, ball and two hats.
The biggest fleecing in baseball since Anthony Rendon inked his current contract.
— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) April 5, 2024
What are your thoughts on the situation?
How should the $700 million man and/or the Dodgers make this right?
What would YOU have done if you caught the home run ball?
October 1st, 1961 – Roger Maris surpasses Babe Ruth's single-season home run mark. Hitting his 61st homer off Tracy Stallard's fastball for the game's only run in the New York Yankees' 1-0 victory at Yankee Stadium.
Sal Durante, a 19-year-old fan who caught the ball, unselfishly… pic.twitter.com/UXaxXRHByd
— Baseball Brew Crew (@beerbaseball_) October 1, 2023