Shohei Ohtani Plays Santa, Gifts Porsche to Dodgers Player’s Wife
In a heartwarming gesture, Shohei Ohtani, the new Dodger phenomenon, played Santa for a fellow player’s family by gifting a new sports car to Ashley Kelly, the wife of relief pitcher Joe Kelly. The gift came as a result of Ashley’s tongue-in-cheek campaign to lure Ohtani to the Dodgers by offering him her husband’s jersey number.
Joe Kelly, who wore No. 17, the same number Ohtani wore during his six-year career with the Angels, was the subject of Ashley’s campaign. She took to social media with the hashtag #ohtake17, promising Ohtani not only her husband’s jersey number, but all of the family’s gear bearing it. After Ohtani signed with the team, Ashley followed up with another video, celebrating his agreement to a 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers.
The playful campaign paid off, as evidenced by a video posted by Ashley showing her apprehensively peeking out her front door at the sports car parked in front of their house. A man’s voice off-screen reveals, “It’s yours, from Shohei. He wanted to gift you a Porsche.”
Jersey numbers are considered semi-sacred in baseball tradition, and it is common for new players coming to a team to offer something of value to the previous number holder. Ohtani may still reward Joe Kelly in other ways for handing over lucky 17. Meanwhile, Joe Kelly will wear No. 99 for the Dodgers, which was last worn by pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu.
The heartwarming gesture from Ohtani has been celebrated throughout Major League Baseball. It is a reminder of the camaraderie and respect shared among players in the sport.