Toronto Blue Jays rookie catcher Brandon Valenzuela apologized to Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani after an incident during a matchup between the Dodgers and the Blue Jays.
As Valenzuela attempted to pick off a runner at first base after an Ohtani strike, he accidentally threw the ball too low, striking Ohtani on the elbow. Ohtani was visibly frustrated and in some pain after getting hit.
Ohtani was checked on but luckily suffered no other injury. Although he was okay, his unhappiness towards the rookie catcher was noticeable.
Valenzuela later said in an interview with Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet that he apologized to Ohtani after the incident. "I said sorry to him. I don't know if he took it, but I said sorry," Valenzuela said (h/t Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet).
The incident not only frustrated Ohtani, as it happened to him, but also frustrated many Dodger fans who tuned in to watch the game. Many Dodger fans felt that Valenzuela wasn't sincere with his apology and purposely attempted to injure Ohtani, while Blue Jay fans claimed it was just an accident.
The rivalry between the Dodgers and the Blue Jays began back in 2024, when Ohtani was believed to be on a plane to Toronto to sign with the Blue Jays. This never happened, and the next day, the Japanese announced he had signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers.
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The tension between both clubs only got larger as they squared off in the 2025 World Series. Through back-and-forth action, cleared benches, and plays that left very short margins of error, the Dodgers would prevail at the Rogers Centre, taking the series in seven games in front of the Toronto faithful.
For someone who wasn't even supposed to be on the MLB roster for the Blue Jays at the start of the season, Valenzuela wouldn't have expected to find himself in this sort of situation. Valenzuela was called up as a starter after star catcher Alejandro Kirk fractured his left thumb, forcing him to be moved to the injured list.
The Blue Jays have dealt with a nightmare start to the season, with many players going down with injuries. With players like Trey Yesavage, Max Scherzer, Cody Ponce, and Adisson Barger suffering injuries, the team has needed to rely on players like Valenzuela to fill the gaps and give the organization a fighting chance in the AL East.
