Shohei Ohtani (aged 30, LA Dodgers), who made a 10-year contract with the LA Dodgers for 700 million U.S. dollars ahead of this season, has been leading the league since his contract was signed. All issues are being absorbed.

The deal itself, the largest single contract in sports history, drew attention, and everyone was surprised by a deferred payment clause that agreed to distribute $680 million, most of the $700 million, 10 years later. Ohtani explained that he did not want his big deal to block liquidity in team spending, but internally criticized it as a ruse to avoid California's high tax rates.

As soon as the spring training began, attention was paid to whether he would participate in the Seoul Series, or wait for the opening, and Ohtani, who had never been rumored to be dating, suddenly announced his marriage. Then, as the controversy over illegal gambling by Mizuhara Ifei, a former interpreter, erupted during the Seoul Series, speculation that Ohtani was involved in the incident by paying off his gambling debt sparked once again in the Major League. Not only that, but his failure to hit a home run in the first eight games of the season also became a hot topic of conversation. Ohtani's every move became a hot topic of conversation.

Ohtani drew attention again when he hit his first home run of the season against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on the 4th (Korea time). On the day, Ohtani escaped from the silence of his home run after the opening with a solo shot over the right-center wall against San Francisco's "left-handed killer" Tyler Rogers in the seventh inning with a 4-3 lead. The first home run hit by the Dodgers came from the Dodger Stadium, his home ground, and many home fans celebrated Ohtani's first home run with enthusiasm.

After the game, Ohtani honestly said, "My current batting is not perfect," adding, "I'm under pressure because I haven't hit a home run," to win sympathy from Dodgers fans, but this home run issue does not end here. Suspicions have been raised that the club caused an accident this time. They say that they put pressure on the fan who hit the home run. The environment surrounding Ohtani became noisy again on the 5th (Korea time) due to reports by The Athletic, a North American sports media outlet.

According to reports from The Athletic, it was Ambar Roman, a long-time fan of the Dodgers who caught the home run. Roman watched the game with his husband that day and luckily was able to catch Ohtani's first home run of the Dodgers. However, The Athletic

The Athletic reported, 'Roman and Valenzuela say that security guards separated them and put pressure on them, and they have no choice but to hand over the home run balls.' In exchange for a ball that he said would be worth it, he received only two hats that Ohtani signed. Roman said that he received threats that if he decided to take the ball home, he might be denied the authenticity. He introduced, 'If it's not genuine, the value of the ball drops significantly.'

Valenzuela expressed disappointment in an interview with Athletic, saying, "We're not trying to extort anyone. We're not hungry for money. It was just a special moment and a special ball. I think it's fair to get equal compensation." Valenzuela claims that security guards isolated him and his wife and effectively threatened him with a deal.

Usually, the collection of home run balls is done according to an agreement between the club and fans, and it ends up receiving a souvenir from the player and taking a commemorative photo. However, some fans do not return home run balls because of their historical value, and they are kept in private hands or sold at high prices at auctions. However, the Dodgers tried to force the ball back, and those who feared that its authenticity would not be verified eventually received only hats, bats, and signed balls.

Valenzuela said, "They really took advantage of her." There were a lot of men around her. They wouldn't let me talk to her or give her any advice. There was no way we could leave. "They almost pushed her into a corner," she said, her voice rising in anger. The Dodgers have no further official comment on inquiries from The Athletic, saying, "The Dodgers can have more conversations with fans about this deal."

There's more controversy. Ohtani said after the game through interim interpreter Will Ireton that he was able to "talk to the fans and get it back." Obviously, it's a very special credit, and there are a lot of emotions about it. He said, "I'm very grateful that (Homer Ball) is back." However, Roman and Valenzuela added fuel to the controversy by claiming that they never met Ohtani.

"The Athletic" reported that he had "never met or talked to Otani," but according to interpreter Will Ereton, Ohtani appeared to have spoken or communicated in some way in his comments after the game. "It is not yet clear whether it is a misunderstanding or whether Ohtani intends to send a message to the fan who caught the ball," he said, raising the possibility of an interpretation error.