Shohei Ohtani Spotted Buying 50/50 Raffle Tickets During All-Star Game, Denies Involvement

ATLANTA - Multiple fans are claiming they spotted Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani participating in the 50/50 raffle during a commercial break at last night’s All-Star Game.

The alleged sighting happened between the 4th and 5th innings, when stadium cameras showed a man in a hoodie and sunglasses frantically counting singles at a concourse kiosk marked “RAFFLE TICKETS - CASH ONLY.” Witnesses say he bore an uncanny resemblance to the three-time MVP.

“I swear on my life that was Shohei,” said Derek Halverson, a Mariners fan in Section 214. “He asked me if the raffle was tax-free. Then he sprinted away after I said no.”

Another witness added, “He had a Dodgers fanny pack and everything. Nobody wanted to say anything because it’s Shohei, but we all saw it.”

When reached for comment, Ohtani denied the allegations through a translator.

“That wasn’t me,” he said. “Could’ve been Ippei, honestly.”

That response raised eyebrows, considering former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is currently serving time in federal prison.

Ohtani quickly added:

“I don’t know who was under the hoodie. People assume too much.”

Social media immediately exploded with memes of “Raffle Ohtani,” including a now-viral video showing someone in a No. 17 jersey dropping a stack of ones while yelling, “Double or nothing!”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts defended his star:

“Shohei is focused on baseball. Even if he was trying to win a free hot dog via raffle, that’s between him and the universe.”

Meanwhile, Vegas sportsbooks have begun offering odds on whether it really was Ohtani at the kiosk:

• Yes, it was him: -115

• No, it was a lookalike: +150

• Ippei escaped and returned in disguise: +2000

• The whole thing was a paid Fanatics stunt: +5000

MLB says it is reviewing the footage but added, “We can’t confirm the identity of every man in a hoodie buying raffle tickets. This is not the NBA.”

Shohei Ohtani has declined further comment, though he was seen after the All-Star Game holding a hot dog and muttering something about “bad beat energy.”