How was Shohei Ohtani’s return to Los Angeles Angels stadium?

Given who Shohei Ohtani is and what he produces both on and off the field, losing him to another team was never going to be taken well, and even more so if that team happens to be the cross-town rival. Yet, that’s exactly what happened.

Shohei Ohtani’s return to Angels stadium could have gone better

On Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers took on their crosstown rivals the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. What that meant is that it was the first time that their blockbuster signing Shohei Ohtani was playing against his former team in their home stadium since he joined the Dodgers in free agency last offseason. As you can probably guess, it was an experience for both the player and the fans that used to sing his praises.

When he approached the plate during the first inning, the Japanese star was welcomed by a chorus of mixed noises ranging from harsh jeers and boos to roaring rounds of applause, something that clearly outlines the way in which he has divided those he left behind. Interestingly, the friction was further fueled by the fact that the big screen in the outfield displayed Ohtani in his Angels uniform before listing some of the accolades he achieved while playing with the franchise, including the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year, 2021 and 2023 AL MVPs and his two Silver Slugger awards.

Of course, that’s all in the past now as Ohtani’s time with the Halos came to an unceremonious end following the 2023 season. That said, when we consider the caliber of player that the 30-year-old is, it’s hard not to sympathize with the frustration that led to his departure after spending six seasons in Anaheim, receiving three All-Star Game nods but never making the postseason. Regarding how he performed on the night, Ohtani batted second on Tuesday and grounded out to first base in his first at-bat of the game, which is to say he didn’t exactly set the world alight. That said, now that he’s moved to another team and one that seemingly has playoff pedigree, the question that needs answering is can Shohei Ohtani go one better?