No, it wasn’t the home run king himself who captivated the crowd at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night. Nor was it the bobblehead in Shohei Ohtani’s likeness that had 53,000 fans buzzing. The star of the night was a 13-year-old boy named Albert, a pediatric patient at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, who, quite literally, threw the ceremonial first pitch.

The story began hours before the game when Shotime surprised Albert with a visit to his hospital, tagging along with a signed jersey—and an offer that left the young fan speechless: The chance to throw out the first pitch with the Unicorn himself behind the plate.

“Nervous?” Ohtani asked, a gentle giant towering over the starstruck teen. Albert’s family noted the uncharacteristic silence that fell over the normally chatty boy. “I’ve never seen him this quiet before,” one of them remarked.

Shohei Ohtani then dropped another bombshell: Albert would be watching the game from a suite. This double whammy of surprises sent the kid’s jaw dropping for the second time. So, once Shotime left, the only words Albert could muster were, “What the heck just happened?”

Later, he elaborated, “First thing I thought was like, ‘Oh, he’s tall.’ I couldn’t even breathe for like 30 seconds.” What’s more surprising is the fact that this heartwarming scene wasn’t just a random act of kindness.

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A tweet revealed that the Los Angeles Dodgers had initially asked if Shotime’s wife, Tanaka Mamiko, would like to throw the first pitch. The slugger, however, declined, expressing a desire to give the opportunity to a child instead—someone who loves baseball, someone who couldn’t attend games due to being confined in a hospital.

When considering Albert’s health struggles, this gesture resonates even more deeply. He’s battling a heart condition, which makes this extraordinary experience not just the memory of a lifetime but a testament to the power of hope and the generosity of a sports superstar like Shohei Ohtani.

The Boys in Blue themselves acknowledged this special moment, posting on their Instagram page later in the day, “Shohei’s first bobblehead night is in the books. Thanks for helping make it special, Albert. 💙”

For Albert, it was a night that transcended baseball. A night where a superstar athlete showed him—and the world—the true meaning of sportsmanship and compassion. And for the 53,000+ fans in attendance, it was a night where they witnessed a different kind of home run—one that touched the heart and reminded everyone of the power of human connection, even in the face of unfortunate restraints related to the health of life that have just started blooming.

So, to answer the question—who is the 13-year-old who threw the first pitch at Shohei Ohtani’s bobblehead night? He’s Albert, a fighter, a baseball fan—and for one unforgettable night, the biggest star that Dodger Stadium has ever had the chance to be regaled with.