MLB Network reporter apologizes for ‘inaccurate' Ohtani report
MLB Network reporter apologizes for ‘inaccurate' Ohtani report originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
MLB Network's Jon Morosi apologized Friday night for reporting what he called "inaccurate information" about Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani and sending the baseball world in a frenzy.
Today, I posted reporting that included inaccurate information that Shohei Ohtani was traveling to Toronto. I regret the mistake and apologize to baseball fans everywhere. I am deeply sorry for letting you down.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 9, 2023
Morosi originally reported at 1 p.m. PT Friday on X (formerly known as Twitter) that Ohtani was "en route to Toronto" but hadn't agreed to a contract with any team, and he cited sources for the information about the free-agent two-way phenom. However, USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith and the New York Post's Jon Heyman all refuted Morosi's report, saying Ohtani was at home in Southern California, not on his way to Canada.
Shohei Ohtani is NOT in Toronto.
Ohtani is NOT on a flight to Toronto.
Ohtani is at home in Southern California.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 8, 2023
Heard same as @BNightengale, that Shohei Ohtani is not in Toronto or on his way to Toronto at this time & is at home in SoCal.
Again, #BlueJays appear to be finalists and we will see where this leads.— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) December 8, 2023
Can confirm Shohei Ohtani is not en route to Toronto and is home in SoCal @BNightengale on it
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 8, 2023
The Blue Jays are among five reported finalists for Ohtani, along with the Giants, Dodgers, Angels and Cubs. Morosi said Friday morning, before the "inaccurate" report, that the Blue Jays "have certainly improved their standing" on Ohtani -- something Giants fans who hope he'll land in the Bay definitely hope isn't true.
"In the last several days, the Jays have certainly improved their standing [on Shohei Ohtani]"
- @jonmorosi on #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/jeyNRQ7H1A— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 8, 2023
Earlier this week, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported that Ohtani is believed to have met with Blue Jays officials Monday at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin, Fla.
The latest Ohtani news wave started Friday morning, when Dodgers Nation's J.P Hoornstra cited multiple sources in reporting that Ohtani would sign with the Blue Jays. Other MLB reporters, including Sportsnet's Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi, quickly refuted that, too.
Source tells me and @ShiDavidi there is at present no decision made by Shohei Ohtani, nor is there a timeline for a decision#BlueJays are a finalist. We'll see where it leads.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) December 8, 2023
An official Ohtani decision reportedly could come as early as Friday, but the entire process has been shrouded in secrecy, and now there has been erroneous reporting.
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