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Shohei Ohtani Makes Things Right With Fan Who Caught Milestone Home Run Ball, Ends Dodgers’ PR Nightmare

Published 04/13/2024, 9:30 AM EDT

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The PR nightmare for the Los Angeles Dodgers has finally ended. The Blue Crew received a massive backlash after Amber Roman and her husband shared the shocking treatment the security staff gave them for catching Shohei Ohtani’s first home run ball. The Dodgers immediately decided to give the couple a moment to remember and invited them back to the stadium on April 12. That trick seems to have worked as Roman couldn’t believe the fact that she was interacting with Shohei Ohtani. 

April 12 was Amber Roman’s birthday. That made it all the more special for the fan. With the Dodgers giving her a VIP treatment she got to meet all of the Men in Blue. However, the main event was shaking hands with Shotime. Roman’s post on her X account shows how huge of a moment that was for her. “Just shook Ohtani’s hand.. Never washing my hand again,” the post read.

Roman held a signed bat, ball, and hat while talking to the Dodgers superstar. However, it’s still unclear whether that’s new merchandise or the one she was given for catching the ball. The home run ball which was estimated to be worth over $100,000 was taken by the Dodgers in exchange for an autographed hat, ball, and a bat. It was deemed quite low by the fans and later Roman revealed that she was forced to take this offer after the Blue Crew denied authenticating the ball she caught.

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As a result, the Dodgers offered Roman a chance to meet all the superstars and watch the game at the field club level. The couple took this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity immediately and as their pictures indicate – they certainly had a grand time in the Dodger Stadium. Shohei Ohtani made things even better for them later in the game. However, that on-field performance had a bittersweet end for the Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani gives fans a moment to remember 

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When Ohtani met Amber Roman and her husband Alexis Valenzuela he immediately hugged them. That instantly turned that moment into a core memory for the couple. Later during the game, the couple became part of another historic moment. They witnessed Shohei Ohtani hit the 175th home run of his MLB career – tying Hideki Matsui’s record for most homers by a Japanese-born player.

It certainly was a visit worth remembering for the couple. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers ended up losing the game 8-7 to the San Diego Padres. But for Roman and Valenzuela this game was nothing short of a win. They’ve got to meet their favorite stars – something that few get to experience. Amidst consistent negativity, this could be the one positive news that the Dodgers needed at this point.

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Written by:

Sanskar Dubey

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Sanskar Dubey is an MLB writer at EssentiallySports. From writing various aspects of baseball like MLB Rule Modifications to diving deep into the world of minor and major leagues, Sanskar covers it all. He loves to write for the sport when there is a hot tussle between the National League and American League throughout the season.
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Edited by:

Sampurna Pal