Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run of the season in a game against the Chicago Cubs, but controversy emerged when it appeared that a fan interfered with the ball as it left the field. The incident occurred during the fifth inning of Game 2 of the Tokyo Series.
Replays showed that a fan’s hand made contact with the ball before it went over the outfield wall, making it unclear whether the home run was valid. Despite this, umpires called the play dead and awarded Ohtani the home run, giving the Dodgers a 6-3 lead.
MLB’s official definition of spectator interference states that if a fan prevents a fielder from catching a fly ball by reaching onto the field of play, the batter is ruled out. However, in this instance, umpires likely determined that the ball was already heading over the fence and that the fan did not pose a threat to Ohtani’s ability to reach base.
The decision has sparked debate among baseball fans, with some arguing that the umpires made the right call and others disagreeing. Despite the controversy, the play still stands as one of the highlights of the Tokyo Series, showcasing Ohtani’s impressive talent and leaving no doubt about his status as a top contender for the NL MVP award.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/shohei-ohtanis-first-home-run-of-the-season-sparks-controversy-after-fan-appears-to-interfere-with-ball-133442990.html