A fan at the Marlins-Dodgers game in Miami missed Shohei Ohtani’s home run ball after coming within inches from a payday of a lifetime.
On Thursday, Ohtani became the first player to register a 50-homer, 50-steal season at loanDepot Park in a 20-4 win for Los Angeles.
When the Japanese two-way superstar launched his 50th homerun, fans opted to keep the ball rather than give it back to Ohtani.
However, one fan sporting a turquoise basketball jersey came excruciatingly close to catching the ball beforehand.
The fan’s initial effort came when he leaned forward as the ball descended on the Recess Sports Lounge. When the ball bounced back toward him, the fan extended his left hand and got within inches but inevitably failed to get a hold of the ball.
A fan in Miami came extremely close to catching Shohei Ohtani’s 50th homer this season
The ball careened off the scoreboard above the in-stadium night club before hitting the surface and giving the fan a chance at a rebound.
He held on to the guardrail before him and extended his upper body on the second attempt. However, he opted against diving into the section below him.
‘You got to dive right there,’ one Bally Sports Florida announcer said. ‘You can’t short-arm. You got to dive.’
The cameras captured a group of fans swarming around the ball, although the clips make it hard to tell who successfully secured it.
Dillon Kohler of SCP Auctions told NBC the ball could be worth at least $300k and could sell for up to $500k.
Aaron Judge’s American League record 62nd home run ball in 2022 sold for $1.5million in an auction, per MLB.com.
Ohtani became the first player to register a 50-homer, 50-steal season in a 20-4 win for LA
Ohtani clocked in 6-for-6, 10-RBI with three homers and a pair of steals against the Marlins
Ohtani joined the Dodgers this year after spending six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels in Orange County. After undergoing an elbow surgery, he was limited to hitting this for his first year in Elysian Park.
Nonetheless, Ohtani is still finding success with his new team.
In Ohtani’s record-setting performance, he clocked in 6-for-6, 10-RBI with three homers and a pair of steals. The Dodgers’ $700m man now has 51 homers and 51 steals this season.
The Dodgers are on top of the National League West with a 91-62 record.