Dodgers rout Jays as Ohtani makes first appearance in Toronto since snub

Blue Jays fans got a taste of what Shohei Ohtani could do if he played in Toronto, but Friday’s lopsided loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers likely soured the already bitter taste in their mouths.

Ohtani smashed a homer in the first inning as boos rained down on him and Los Angeles went on to rout Toronto 12-2 on Friday, months after the Japanese superstar turned down a lucrative free-agent offer from the Blue Jays.

“I really do feel that the fans here are passionate and when they are, that’s the kind of reception that they’ll probably do,” said Ohtani, who was booed by the sold-out Rogers Centre crowd of 39,688 every time he came to the plate. “I’m just very grateful and respectful that fans here are passionate, just as much as the Dodger fans are with us.”

Toronto was in the running to sign Ohtani in the off-season but the highly prized free agent ultimately chose the Dodgers, signing a 10-year, US$700 million contract on Dec. 11. It is the largest contract in professional sports history.

“Aside from how the fans may or may not think, I’m just very grateful for the teams that approached me and wanted to sign me,” said Ohtani. “As I said in my press conference before, ultimately I could only choose one team.”

Ohtani was unfazed by the jeers, crushing his seventh home run of the season on an 83.2 m.p.h. slider from Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt 360 feet.

“After he homered, the guys in the dugout booed him as well,” said L.A. manager Dave Roberts. “That was pretty funny. He got a big kick out of that.”

Max Muncy’s three-run homer was part of a six-run third inning as Los Angeles (17-11) won its fifth straight. Will Smith had a home run, an RBI double, and a sacrifice fly as the Dodgers racked up 19 hits.

Danny Jansen had a home run in the fourth inning as Toronto (13-14) absorbed its fourth consecutive loss. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in another run with a ground out in the eighth.

Bassitt (2-4) floundered through 2 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits and three walks, striking out four. His earned-run average ballooned from 3.90 to 5.64 in the brief start.