Shohei Ohtani Reveals What He Gave to Fan for First Dodgers Home Run Ball

Dodgers fans had to wait until the ninth game of the season but they finally saw what they had all been chomping at the bits for: a Shohei Ohtani home run.

The 430-foot drive to right-center field came in the seventh inning of Wednesday night's game against the San Francisco Giants. It couldn't have come at a better time as it was the final day of the Dodgers' first homestand and a sellout crowd.

Naturally, the Japanese sensation wanted to have the ball as memorabilia. The historic moment of hitting his first homer in a Dodgers uniform is a meaningful one and Ohtani wanted to have that memory forever.

So, he had to find the fan who caught the ball after his home run. Fortunately, he was able to do so, according to Dodgers beat reporter Juan Toribio.

The star slugger was able to get the ball back from the fan for a reasonable return. In exchange for a ball, two caps, and a bat, Ohtani was able to secure the ball. The fan likely could have gotten more in that exchange but that is neither here nor there.

What is important is that Ohtani is finally back on track. Facing the pressure of the $700 million contract he signed this winter, followed by the scandal that led to the firing of his close friend and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, it had been an uneasy start for Ohtani. The best baseball player in the world had a slow start to the season, slashing .242/.297/.333 in his first eight games.

Ohtani showed that there isn't much to worry about. The homerless drought is over and the rest of the league is put on notice that the two-time MVP might officially be back.

Currently, Ohtani is considered a long shot (+1500) to win the NL MVP. I wouldn't count him out just yet.

More Dodgers coverage:

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.