Shohei Ohtani And The Social Media Speculation: A Toronto Story

It all started with a tweet. On December 8 last year, during a Friday afternoon in the heart of the MLB offseason, Toronto-based freelance photographer Carlos Osorio, a devoted Blue Jays fan, was scrolling through X (formerly Twitter). He stumbled upon a wave of social media buzz surrounding superstar Shohei Ohtani. The excitement was palpable as fans speculated about Ohtani's potential signing with the Blue Jays, a team vying for the free-agent star's attention.

As the rumors swirled, Osorio discovered a post tracking a private jet flying from Orange County to Toronto. Online sleuths quickly concluded that the jet must be carrying Ohtani to meet with the Blue Jays. Adding fuel to the fire, an MLB Network reporter announced that “Shohei Ohtani is en route to Toronto today,” citing multiple unnamed sources. This confirmation only intensified the eagerness and anticipation surrounding Ohtani's visit.

Driven by excitement, Osorio sprang into action. He reached out to his editor at Reuters, offering to head to Toronto Pearson Airport to capture what he believed would be Ohtani's grand arrival. Alongside a crowd of fellow photographers and autograph seekers, Osorio awaited the plane's landing, fully expecting to snap the first photos of Ohtani stepping onto Canadian soil.

However, when the door of the plane opened, it wasn’t Ohtani who stepped out, but Canadian entrepreneur and television personality Robert Herjavec. The situation quickly unraveled, revealing that Ohtani was not on that flight at all. The jet belonged to Herjavec, and the following day, Ohtani shocked everyone by announcing his decision to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a staggering 10-year, $700 million deal. For Osorio and many other Blue Jays supporters, the realization was heart-wrenching.

“The plane lands, and I’m like, ‘S—,’” Osorio shared, reflecting on that day. “We got there just in time to see Robert getting out of this plane and going into a car. That was it.” The hype had built up only to come crashing down, showcasing the power of social media speculation in shaping narratives that sometimes lead nowhere.