Shohei Ohtani just keeps finding ways to impress.
The Los Angeles Angels phenom failed to make it out of the first round of the Home Run Derby, losing a multi-round swing-off to Juan Soto, but he still received $150,000 for participating. According to the Orange County Register’s Jeff Fletcher, Ohtani decided to give the money away.
Ohtani reportedly distributed checks to around 30 Angels support staffers — including trainers, clubhouse workers and media relations personnel — to thank them for their work on Friday.
What’s more, the 27-year-old reportedly planned to do this no matter how the Derby played out, which means he would have been giving out $1 million had he won on Monday.
Ohtani entered the Derby as the betting favorite, having hit 33 first-half home runs to become the No. 1 seed, but only mustered 22 home runs in the first round to tie Soto. A one-minute swing-off kept the count tied at 28, leading to a three-swing tiebreaker that Soto won.
New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso ended up winning the event, defeating Salvador Perez, Soto and Trey Mancini for his second straight win.
