Toronto — The online community is in an uproar after the Toronto Blue Jays suddenly “teased” Shohei Ohtani with a humorous but meaningful message: “Hey Ohtani, the Blue Jays want their stuff back!” – “Hey Ohtani, the Blue Jays want their stuff back!”
The story originated from a recent share by head coach John Schneider in a press conference, when asked about the team almost recruiting Ohtani at the end of 2023. Schneider smiled and repeated:
“I just hope he still has the hat we gave him at that meeting… and the coat for his dog Decoy. Give us his stuff back!”
The statement seemed like a joke, but it made Blue Jays fans “both sad and funny”. Because less than a year ago, Toronto was considered the strongest candidate in the race to sign Shohei Ohtani — before the Japanese superstar suddenly “changed direction” to the Los Angeles Dodgers with a contract worth 700 million USD, the largest in the history of world sports.
The photo that went viral online showed Ohtani in a Dodgers jersey and Blue Jays coach Schneider standing next to each other — like an “unhealed wound” for Canadian fans. Below, thousands of comments poured in, both laughing and regretful:
“We don’t just want the hat back… we want the World Series dream back.”
“If Ohtani wears the Blue Jays jacket just once, I’ll forgive him.”
“It hurts, but I have to admit that Schneider’s joke was awesome.”
Although Ohtani is now a “Dodgers player,” in the hearts of Toronto fans, he is still “the one who missed the appointment.” And Schneider’s witty words show that the Blue Jays have not forgotten that turn — but have instead turned their regret into a smile.
This little story quickly went viral on social media. The hashtag #GiveUsOurStuffBack is spreading like wildfire, as a humorous symbol of “sports heartbreak.”
Perhaps Shohei Ohtani could not return the hat, shirt, or jacket to the dog Decoy. But he left Toronto with something else — an unforgettable memory and a humorous and emotional chapter in MLB history.
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