Shohei Ohtani entered to a chorus of boos from Toronto fans, yet he wore a smile on his face.

The World Series began today, featuring the historic first championship contest between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. During the free agent period two winters ago, Ohtani inadvertently disappointed Toronto fans, and now they face off in the World Series. As his name was called during player introductions, the stadium was filled with boos, yet Ohtani maintained a gentle smile and composed presence.

When Shohei Ohtani entered free agency, the Blue Jays were among the final contenders. Due to a series of mistaken leaks, it was rumored that Toronto would win the bidding, but in the end, Ohtani chose the Dodgers, leaving Toronto fans disappointed. This has become one of the most talked-about storylines of this World Series.

The first game of the series took place today at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. When Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, manager Dave Roberts, and Mookie Betts were introduced, the crowd responded with loud boos. Freddie Freeman, whose parents are Canadian and who has represented Canada in the World Baseball Classic, received cheers mixed with some scattered boos. Meanwhile, Teoscar Hernández, who played six seasons with the Blue Jays, was greeted with the warmest applause.