Baseball fans who caught Shohei Ohtani’s three home run balls last Friday night may be sitting on a fortune. According to a top auction expert, each of the historic souvenirs could fetch millions of dollars if put up for sale.
David Kohler, the founder of SCP Auctions, told TMZ Sports on Monday that if any of Ohtani’s home run balls from the National League Championship Series (NLCS) landed on his auction block, he would expect bids to soar to at least $3 million— or even more.
Kohler said the figure isn’t unrealistic, noting that Ohtani’s 50th home run ball from last year sold for an astonishing $4.39 million. He added that the recent home run balls could be worth even more, given Ohtani’s historic performance that night.
“The market is primed to capitalize on the crowning achievement of the most dominant athlete in the world today,” Kohler said.
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During Game 4 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, Ohtani hit three home runs — in the first, fourth, and seventh innings — while also pitching six scoreless innings and striking out ten batters. Experts say the combination of pitching and batting dominance makes these baseballs especially valuable to collectors.
David Flores, a 35-year-old boxing trainer, revealed on Instagram that he caught Ohtani’s third home run ball. Another fan, 26-year-old Carlos Mendoza, claimed to have caught the second. The first home run ball’s owner has not yet been identified.
Flores has already said he plans to sell his ball, while Mendoza initially told USA Today he wanted to return his to Ohtani — though experts say the potential for a seven-figure payout could change his mind.
With Ohtani’s global stardom and record-breaking season, sports memorabilia collectors are calling these home run balls some of the most valuable in modern baseball history.
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