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Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Japan’s affinity for Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani examined in ‘Searching for Ohtani’

In the process, says Verlander, the younger brother of two-time Cy Young, MVP winner and World Series champion Justin Verlander, he also discovered his true meaning.

Verlander spent 10 days in Japan last month traveling to Shohei Ohtani’s hometown, going to ballgames, visiting Ohtani’s former coaches and teammates, his hometown mayor, fans and children, and returning for a one-hour interview with Ohtani in Los Angeles.

It will all be unveiled in Fox Sports’ show “Searching for Shohei: An Interview Special”, a 60-minute show produced by sports media company Religion of Sports, which will be broadcast Oct. 18 on FS1 after Game 1 of the ALCS. ...

“I was told by so many people in Japan that people there aren’t the most outspoken,” Verlander said. “They don’t speak up, don’t speak boldly, so I am their voice on the other side of the world. How can you not be affected by that?

“When I got over there, I was blown away by the response. The response was unbelievable. There were grown adults coming to see me, some traveling four hours, coming to see me for meet-ups. There were gifts, magazines, posts with my picture on them.

“There were kids who broke into tears. One girl burst into tears and couldn’t bring herself together. I was blown away. Kids there were asking for my autograph. It was emotional for me, emotional for them.

“Looking back, I saw some of the coolest things in the world.

“Really, it was the coolest experience in my life.”

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 28, 2022 at 04:14 PM | 7 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: ben verlander, shohei ohtani

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   1. JJ1986 Posted: September 28, 2022 at 07:17 PM (#6098248)
I wonder if my immediate reaction would be less negative if I didn't know that Ben Verlander was the most self-aggrandizing jabroni to walk the Earth.
   2. Nasty Nate Posted: September 28, 2022 at 08:15 PM (#6098258)
Verlander said. “They don’t speak up, don’t speak boldly, so I am their voice on the other side of the world.
#### off, dude.
   3. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 28, 2022 at 10:42 PM (#6098282)
if I didn't know that Ben Verlander was the most self-aggrandizing jabroni to walk the Earth.


There are two ways to go about being the brother of someone famous - Cooper Manning seems to be in on the joke, then there are people like Jackson Mahomes that think they are the center of attention. Ben Verlander seems to have chosen the latter path.
   4. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: September 29, 2022 at 12:06 AM (#6098292)
"I didn’t know what was going to happen, I didn’t know what we’d get," Verlander told USA TODAY Sports, "but it was the most powerful story what he means to everyone in Japan, and at the same time, what I mean.

"Without sounding too mushy and sentimental, everybody wants to have a purpose. I thought my purpose was to play baseball, and play it as long as I can. But I learned that even though my baseball career is over, I still matter.
You kind of have to feel sorry for him.
   5. The Gary DiSarcina Fan Club (JAHV) Posted: September 29, 2022 at 11:01 AM (#6098319)
You kind of have to feel sorry for him.


After checking thoroughly, I can report that you actually do not.
   6. Itchy Row Posted: September 29, 2022 at 12:46 PM (#6098331)
Ichiro could have been the voice of Japan if Ben Verlander wanted him to.
   7. You can keep your massive haul Posted: September 29, 2022 at 04:58 PM (#6098374)
Thread over lol!

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