Shohei Ohtani Reacts To Detroit Tigers Announcer’s Comment

Shohei Ohtani in the dugout for the Angels.

MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani doesn’t seem too concerned with the recent controversy surrounding Bally Sports Detroit commentator Jack Morris.

“I’m not offended and I didn’t take anything personally,” Ohtani said through his interpreter on Wednesday night, via TMZ Sports. “[Morris] is a Hall of Famer. He has a big influence in the baseball world. It’s kind of a tough spot.”During the first game of Detroit’s series against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, Morris took a racially insensitive tone as the Japanese superstar stepped up to the plate. When asked by his play-by-play partner, Matt Shepard, what strategy should be used against Ohtani, the former Tigers pitcher used an accent that seemed to mock Asian American speakers.

“Be very, very careful,” he said.

Jack Morris apologies before Shohei Otani’s at-bat in the ninth inning. pic.twitter.com/WdCjfyfSvX

— Spencer Wheelock (@SpencerWheelock) August 18, 2021

Three innings later in the ninth, Morris apologized for his comments as Ohtani stepped up to the plate. His show of remorse wasn’t exactly flawless though — stumbling over Ohtani’s name and accidentally calling him “Jose” before correcting himself.

“It’s been brought to my attention, and I sincerely apologize if I offended anybody, especially anybody in the Asian community, for what I said about pitching and being careful to Jose or Shohei Ohtani,” Morris said on the broadcast. “I did not intend for any offensive thing and I apologize if I did. I certainly respect and have the utmost respect for this guy.”

Morris has since been suspended indefinitely by Bally Sports.

During yesterday’s 3-1 victory over the Tigers, Ohtani became the quickest Angels player in franchise history to log 40 home runs. He also took the mound as a starter, notching eight strike outs through eight innings pitched.

The post Shohei Ohtani Reacts To Detroit Tigers Announcer’s Comment appeared first on The Spun.

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