MLB fans have been speculating for months about Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani and where he could potentially end up next season. One thing became crystal clear during the MLB All-Star Game in Seattle, Washington on Tuesday, Seattle Mariners fans would love to have him.
Ohtani stepped to the plate in the bottom of the first inning of the All-Star Game to a massive ovation from the local Mariners fans.
Fans didn’t stop there, as they showered him with a very loud “Come to Seattle” chant as he prepared to step into the batter’s box.
We think people in Seattle might want Shohei Ohtani to come play baseball here pic.twitter.com/7ImhzMXGmG
— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) July 12, 2023
He didn’t have any special moment in the game, striking out in his lone at-bat in the game. Regardless, Ohtani clearly got the message and reciprocated the love to the Seattle crowd after his night was done.
Ohtani spoke about the moment, saying that he had “never experienced anything like that”.
“I have definitely never experienced anything like that,” Ohtani said via his interpreter. “But I was just trying to focus on my at-bat.
Shohei Ohtani talks to the media about Mariner fans chanting “Come to Seattle!” at the MLB All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/gJgonTdzuV
— The Sporting Tribune (@SportingTrib) July 12, 2023
He then went on to praise the Seattle crowd, saying that the fans are “always passionate”.
“Every time I come here, the fans are passionate. They are really into the game, so it’s very impressive. I have actually spent a couple of offseasons in Seattle, I like the city it’s beautiful.”
This could obviously just be Ohtani being thankful for the cheers, but it certainly sounds like Ohtani enjoyed his latest stay in Seattle.
Mariners fans ran with this narrative and are wondering if Ohtani potentially loves the city enough to stay there permanently as a member of the Seattle Mariners in the future.
He will be in the Mariners uniform starting next year.
— Michael POS (@mchoyla) July 12, 2023
He spends time in Seattle????
— Seattle Mariners ON Tap (@MarinersONTap) July 12, 2023
He should continue Ichiro's legacy of sensational players from Japan in Seattle!
— HPB (@HPBearman) July 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/Walkstrong86/status/1678947883301900288
Mariner
— BFR 🅴 (@BluesFanReacts) July 12, 2023
It is almost guaranteed that the Angels would never trade a player like Ohtani to an AL West rival, so the Mariners would need to sign Ohtani in free agency this coming offseason.
Pairing Ohtani with a young star in the outfield like Julio Rodriguez would certainly be awesome to see in Seattle, but at this point, it seems like it is just a conspiracy theory coming from Mariners fans.
[The Sporting Tribune on Twitter]
