Thoughts vary regarding how the Los Angeles Dodgers have handled the illegal gambling scandal implicating former longtime friend and interpreter of star Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara.
However, while that saga hangs over the franchise’s head, the latest incident involving the team isn’t bound to boost public opinion.
On Wednesday, Ohtani smashed his first home run as a Dodger to the delight of many, except the fan who caught the ball, Ambar Roman. On Thursday, she told Sam Blum of The Athletic that team security pressured her unnecessarily when attempting to claim the historic ball.
Roman alleges that security coerced her into answering immediately, threatening to block the ball’s authentication if she didn’t give it up. Finally, she relented, exchanging it for two autographed hats and bats.