ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani donated his winnings from this week’s Home Run Derby to members of the Los Angeles Angels‘ support staff, according to multiple reports Friday.
The news was first reported by the Orange County Register.
Ohtani donated the $150,000 he received to more than a couple of dozen people, including clubhouse staff, trainers and members of the media relations department, the reports said. The two-way Japanese sensation handed out the checks before the Angels’ game Friday night against the Seattle Mariners.
Besides becoming the first Japanese player to participate in the Home Run Derby, Ohtani was the first one in All-Star Game history to be selected as both a pitcher and a hitter. He threw a perfect first inning and was 0-for-2 in the AL’s 5-2 victory on Tuesday.
Ohtani was the top seed in Monday’s derby but was eliminated in the first round after he lost a swing-off to Washington’s Juan Soto.
Pete Alonso of the New York Mets won the derby and took the $1 million prize. Baltimore’s Trey Mancini was second and took home $500,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
