SF Giants rookie gets Dodgers superstar’s autograph after striking him out

The SF Giants recently called up rookie reliever Nick Avila. He did not have a great outing as he allowed two earned runs in two innings pitched, but he did gain a lifelong memory after he struck out Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.

SF Giants rookie gets Dodgers superstar's autograph after striking him out

In his outing against the Dodgers, Avila struck out Ohtani, which was the first strikeout of his big league career. While any big league debut is memorable, it is even more memorable when you get your first punch out against one of the premier players in the sport.

Not only that, but in a touch of class Ohtani even signed the ball that Avila used to strike him out. Ohtani is a Dodger and a sworn enemy, but it is cool that he would take the time to do that even though many stars would refuse to do so. Avila said that he has already sent the picture of the autograph to several of his friends.

Avila is a pitcher we may see a lot more of this season. He had a very respectable ERA of 3.00 in Triple-A last season while going on an incredible run. Plus, with the bullpen being a bit of a weak spot to start the season, it would not be surprising to see the Giants cycle through a lot of different arms to figure out the best bullpen they can put together.

Luke Jackson has already gone down to injury. Plus, the team has had to rely a lot on inexperienced arms like Erik Miller, Kai-Wei Teng, and Landen Roupp, so Avila could be another young pitcher they lean on heavily throughout the year. One way to figure out what is in the farm system is to throw them into the deep end and see if they can swim.

Even if Avila struggles this season, he will have a pretty awesome memory from his first MLB game. He can show that ball to his grandkids one day and tell them that he struck out one of the greatest hitters of his generation. Not too shabby for an MLB debut.

Related Posts

Steelers work out former third-round OT, Pro Bowl LS

Despite filling their remaining roster spot on Sunday with the activation of defensive lineman Dean Lowry, the Steelers still took the time to work out four more players per NFL…

New eyeglasses give Kiké Hernández a new outlook on hitting

Turns out, his brand-new eyeglasses might be partially to thank. In a subtle change that has had a profound impact on his once-slumping season, Hernández started wearing…

Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton gets 100% real about Aaron Judge treatment

Opposing teams intentionally walking New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has been a hot topic as of late, and for much of the season, Giancarlo Stanton has taken advantage of the runners on…

Cubs Sign Josh Staumont to Minor-League Deal

The Chicago Cubs are making up for the inactivity of the offseason with their signings during the season. This time, reliever Josh Staumont is joining the organization on a minor-league contract….

Jarren Duran apologizes for using homophobic slur at fan, Red Sox issue statement

Following his incident on Sunday where he was heard uttering an insensitive, homophobic slur towards a fan, OF Jarren Duran along with the Boston Red Sox have each shared statements…

Yankees’ Aaron Judge confronts annoying trend after win vs. Rangers

Intentional walks might be an important baseball strategy, but excellent hitters might also not like it. Still, all that matters in the game is your team winning,…