Baseball wasn’t always a part of my life, until I saw Shohei Ohtani. Yes, he plays for the Dodgers now, but watching him dominate on the the mound and in the batter’s box as an Angel was unbelievable. But, what stood out most was that he looked like me. As a Korean American, we weren’t completely similar, but seeing someone who shared similar traits to me break barriers on the biggest stage made the game feel personal. It gave me a reason to care and love for the game.
My father also played baseball back in high school and grew up watching the Oakland A’s. His love for the game may have fizzled out, but it was always there deep down. It wasn’t until Ohtani came onto the scene that I truly connected with it too. Baseball became something we could share.
Writing for Crashing the Pearly Gates gives me a chance to explore this new passion further and grow in a community that shares the same passion. I’m excited to contribute and tell the stories behind the scores!
