'Fist Pumping and Roaring' Reaction After Striking Out Ohtani Twice Sparks Debate on SNS: 'Too Much vs. Understandable'
Was he so happy to strike out the mighty Shohei Ohtani (30, LA Dodgers) twice? A late-blooming rookie pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) showcased a flashy reaction.
Japanese media "The Digest" reported on the 2nd, "The reaction of San Francisco Giants starter Spence Bivens, who struck out Ohtani twice, is gaining attention."
Bivens, who debuted in MLB this year, is a rookie pitcher born in 1994, the same age as Ohtani. After not being drafted out of college, he played in France and the Czech Republic. Since 2020, he played in the independent leagues in the U.S. and signed a minor league contract with San Francisco in 2022, making his big-league debut at the age of 30 on June 17 this year.
In his first five games, he pitched only in relief, but on the 1st (Korean time), he made his first MLB start against the Dodgers at home. He pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, 3 strikeouts, and 1 run, earning his first big-league win as a starter, with his team scoring 10 runs.
However, what drew more attention than Bivens' pitching was his matchup against Ohtani. That day, Ohtani, batting first as the designated hitter for the Dodgers, went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. Bivens struck him out twice in three at-bats.
In the first inning, Ohtani grounded out to first base. In the top of the third with two outs and a runner on second, Ohtani swung and missed on a high inside fastball on a 2-2 count, striking out. Bivens clenched his fist in joy and returned to the dugout.
In the fifth inning, after giving up a solo home run to Chris Taylor and a single to Kiké Hernández, Bivens induced a groundout to first from Austin Barnes with two outs and a runner on second. Facing Ohtani again, he threw two consecutive strikes and then got Ohtani to swing and miss on a deep inside sweeper, ending the inning. Bivens again celebrated with a bold fist pump and roar. The game announcers commented, "What a cool reaction."
MLB's official SNS posted the video with the caption, "You'd react like this too if you struck out Shohei Ohtani twice in a game."
Reactions were mixed. Some fans said, "It was too much," "Why not react like that for every strike?" Others defended Bivens, saying, "He had every right to celebrate," "Don't criticize Bivens," and "Anyone would do the same." 먹튀검증
After the game, Bivens said, "It didn't matter who the opponent was. I just didn't want to give up a run," but added, "I put all my effort into getting Ohtani out." Giants manager Bob Melvin remarked, "Striking out Ohtani and pitching five innings must have been special for Bivens. Everyone must have been thrilled."