MIAMI — While October hardball has never graced the loanDepot Park, the magic of Shohei Ohtani has certainly made its mark here.
Despite hosting 1,014 regular-season contests since opening in 2012, Miami’s loanDepot Park remains the only active MLB ballpark that has never seen a postseason game, except for the temporary abodes in Sacramento and Tampa.
And with the perpetual rebuilding of the Marlins, this futuristic South Florida colossus often sees fewer than 10,000 fans under its retractable roof, making it the echoey, tensionless home of low-stakes baseball.
However, when Ohtani comes to town, the atmosphere changes.
On Monday, the Dodgers’ DH hit his fifth home run in just six career games at loanDepot Park. His fifth-inning shot off Sandy Alcantara was the hardest hit ball of his season and the hardest hit home run in MLB so far.
That two-run laser helped the defending champs secure a 7-4 victory, their eighth win in nine games. Ohtani, once again, was the star of the show.
“Really good memories, just with the accomplishments last year and playing in the WBC,” Ohtani said after the game. “You know, we had a really good game today as well. So, really, this is one of my favorite stadiums.”
It’s strange that many of Ohtani’s brightest moments have taken place in a building that feels more like an abandoned aquatic center than a professional sports venue. The reported 15,395 fans at Monday’s game marked the largest weekday crowd of the Marlins’ season so far.
For context, the Marlins drew 40,097 fans for a three-game set last weekend, while the Dodgers had an attendance of 47,192 for their most recent home game.
None of this financial disparity mattered to Ohtani on Monday. His legendary exploits in this unlikely setting have become an essential part of his story.
His reign of dominance in Miami continued with his two-run shot, adding to his impressive stats in the city. The sound of his home runs is always awe-inspiring, sharp, and immediate.
Compared to his previous achievements in Miami, Ohtani’s performance on Monday may not have carried the same dramatic weight, but it showcased his talent in a stadium that has become his personal playground.