SEATTLE — On an evening of theatrics, it was as if the 47,159 available had rehearsed.
As Shohei Ohtani stepped to the plate in the primary inning, there have been not boos or many cheers, but as an alternative a clearly enunciated message.
“Come to Seattle,” a complete ballpark sang in unison Tuesday, as if their lungs could force his hand to sign on a dotted line.
On an annual night that’s all concerning the platform — an event that may sometimes turn a useful player right into a legend or a slugger right into a superstar — it was not a player but Mariners fans who made the loudest statement.
The sweepstakes for Ohtani, who might be a free agent after this season and will turn into available on the trade deadline if the Angels opt to sell, has begun.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that,” Ohtani said through an interpreter as his American League squad fell, 3-2, to the National League within the All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park.
“I definitely heard it. I used to be attempting to give attention to my at-bat.”
The primary at-bat — a strikeout against Arizona’s Zac Gallen — didn’t matter much. Neither did his third-inning walk against San Francisco’s Alex Cobb.
What entertained most was tens of 1000’s of fans screaming and pleading for the two-way star, who is perhaps the very best player in the game’s history.
“Each time I come here, the fans are passionate, they’re really into the sport,” said Ohtani, who didn’t pitch. “So it’s very impressive.”
The Mariners might be certainly one of 30 teams that attempt to court perhaps probably the most enticing free agent within the history of Major League Baseball.
The Mets and Yankees likely might be heavy suitors, even when Ohtani didn’t much consider East Coast teams before he selected the Angels ahead of the 2018 season.
The Dodgers are presumed to be a powerful contender, too, and Ohtani name-dropped Mookie Betts when asked about any player he admired.
Mets starter Kodai Senga, who was named to the All-Star Game but didn’t pitch because he said his top priority is staying healthy for the season, joked this week that he desired to put a Mets cap on Ohtani to start recruiting.
Senga, who called his catch-up with Ohtani this week “very temporary,” heard the chants.
“It was only a reminder of how great he’s and the way loved he’s by baseball fans,” Senga said through interpreter Hiro Fujiwara.
There have been other stars out on an entertaining night. Luis Arraez, the unique Marlins contact hitter who’s making a run at .400, saw two pitches: an 87 mph splitter from Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi and a 98 mph fastball from Seattle’s George Kirby.
He singled on each, the second knocking within the National League’s first run of the sport within the fourth inning.
“Each time I watch him on TV, he gets base hits,” Ohtani said of Arraez, who hit .383 in the primary half.
The Rays’ Randy Arozarena showed up, too, making an amazing catch on the left-field wall to bail out Gerrit Cole in the primary inning.
His teammate, Yandy Diaz — a first-time All-Star in his seventh season — gave the American League its first run and lead with a homer against Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller within the second inning.
Arizona’s Lourdes Gurriel Jr. appeared to tie the sport within the seventh inning, but a replay review showed his homer went foul. Colorado’s Elias Diaz, a first-time All-Star in a nine-year profession, then finished the comeback job with a two-run shot within the eighth inning against excellent Baltimore closer Felix Bautista to place the NL ahead to remain.
The American League put two on against Craig Kimbrel within the ninth, however the Phillies closer struck out Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez to finish it.
The consequence of the sport became a footnote as soon because the Pacific Northwest yelled to the skies. Zeroes on a contract likely will matter more, however the Mariners are the early leaders on decibels to lure Ohtani.
“I just like the city, it’s good,” Ohtani said of Seattle, which made its voice heard.