Typically, this process concludes with the fan having the opportunity to meet the player, but even this aspect became contentious. Roman and Valenzuela informed The Athletic that they never encountered Ohtani, despite his assertions to the contrary following the game:
“I was able to talk to the fan, and was able to get it back,” Ohtani conveyed through interpreter Will Ireton. “Obviously it’s a very special ball, a lot of feelings toward it, I’m very grateful that it’s back.”
Allegedly, the Dodgers chose not to address Roman’s concerns beyond indicating they were “open to a further conversation” with him.
Considering that Ohtani’s reputation for honesty was already a significant aspect of one of the season’s major narratives, his apparent falsehood about meeting a fan cannot be overlooked. Overall, this incident presents a peculiar and entirely avoidable situation for the Dodgers, especially amidst an already eventful season. It also underscores the importance of fans knowing their rights if they ever come into possession of a highly significant ball. While teams may threaten not to authenticate the ball, it is essential to recognize that such actions could have consequences for them as well.