Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who is expected to earn the biggest contract in baseball history when he becomes a free agent this year, was greeted at Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game by fans chanting for him to sign with the hometown Seattle Mariners.
Ohtani's Los Angeles Angels have not reached the postseason since 2014, and the losing has begun to wear on him. At Monday's media availability, he told reporters through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, that "it sucks to lose."
A recent rash of injuries has reduced the Angels' chances of ending that drought, while increasing the chances Ohtani might sign with another team. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants are seen as leading contenders, but Mariners fans have not given up hope.
So when Ohtani came to bat as the American League's designated hitter in the first and fourth innings on Tuesday, chants of "Come to Seattle" rang through the Mariners' T-Mobile Park.
Ohtani struck out his first time up and walked in his second trip to the plate.
The Angels went into the All-Star break having lost nine of 10 games, having gone 14-13 in June, when Ohtani hit 15 home runs and posted a 3.26 ERA as a starting pitcher.
