They say it’s better not to meet your idols, and on this occasion it seems to be true, as a baseball player publicly commented on how her encounter with star Shohei Ohtani went and she was not very happy with that moment.
Brisbane Little League World Series infielder Monica Arcuri has made headlines by criticizing Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani on live television. The young athlete recounted a disappointing encounter with the baseball player that left her with a negative impression of his humility.
An unforgettable memory
During an interview with ESPN‘s Pepper Persley, Arcuri shared a story from a 2023 game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays. On that occasion, Monica’s brother received a home run that Ohtani had hit. The next day, the young woman approached the VIP area of the stadium to ask her idol for an autograph, but Ohtani simply gave her a “sideways glance and not a nice look,” as the fan recalled, who also added that “he is not humble“.
The incident, which Arcuri recounted with visible disappointment, has resonated quite a bit, as such a small gesture could have meant a lot to the young fan, however, it ended up being an unpleasant situation and shows that even legends can have a bad day.
Ohtani’s eventful season
Despite criticism off the field, Ohtani’s performance on the season has not been affected. For Saturday’s game against the Colorado Rockies, the 31-year-old was hitting .283 with 43 home runs, 80 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. In addition, as a pitcher, he has demonstrated his ability with a 3.47 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched
His return to the mound, after Tommy John surgery, positions him as a key piece for the Dodgers to achieve the first World Series repeat since 2000. The Japanese’s season has not been without injuries and complications, but he still manages to shine.
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