The MLB All-Star Game is the perfect showcase for fans to see all the game’s best players on the same field. But fans aren’t the only ones who get excited at the chance to watch the biggest stars come together—the players get to geek out, too.
And who’s the player that other All-Stars are most excited to see? That would be Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani.
At least, that’s the case for A’s designated hitter Brent Rooker, who was named to the American League All-Star team for the first time in his career. The 28-year-old had a .200 career batting average in 81 games before breaking out this season, posting an .816 OPS with 14 homers in 72 games entering Monday.
One of those home runs came on April 27 against Ohtani, and when asked which MLB star he was most looking forward to meeting in Seattle at All-Star festivities, Rooker immediately said Ohtani—and brought up his early-season highlight against the former MVP, with a humble request attached to it.
Brent Rooker, an All-Star for the first time, wants Shohei Ohtani to sign a picture of him homering against Ohtani while the two are in Seattle.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 3, 2023
“If there’s anyone doubting he’s the best baseball player of all time, I don’t really know why they are.”
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“There’s a really cool picture of me hitting a homer off Shohei in Anaheim, and I’m gonna approach him very humbly and try to get him to sign it, because I think that’s something I would love to have forever,” Rooker said. “If there’s anybody doubting that he is the best baseball player of all time, I don’t really know why they are.”
Ohtani is clearly among the most popular players in baseball, and it would come as no surprise for him to fulfill Rooker’s appeal. Still, it’s a bold move from Rooker, who further emphasized the reverence he has for his fellow All-Star ahead of his request.
“I’m gonna definitely introduce myself to him—very, very humbly and very meekly—and see if he will sign that picture for me,” Rooker said.
