Alexis Bledel's ‘Handmaid's Tale' Series Finale Cameo
Spoilers for The Handmaid's Tale series finale ahead!!
Under his eye no more. The Handmaid's Tale came to an end this week with an explosive series finale, aptly titled 'The Handmaid's Tale.' The series finale was full of last mimute twists and turns, including the surprise return of fan favorite Emily or Ofglen. After two seasons away, Alexis Bledel returned for the Handmaid's Tale series finale, giving fans a much-needed update on her character and helping bring June's story to a close.
'It was an immediate yes,' Alexis told The Hollywood Reporter of her return to the dystopian series. 'It felt right to bring closure to Emily's journey and offer the audience a sense of completion.' The actor left the series after four seasons of playing Emily, a Handmaid who helps June, played by Elisabeth Moss, join the rebellion in Gilead. Her character was written off in season 5, when it was explained that Emily had decided to continue fighting in Gilead. Many, including Emily's partner, believed her to be dead.
But in the series finale, Emily runs into June in a now liberated Boston and reveals she's been working as a Martha for a sympathetic Commander while continuing the resistance. She also confirms that she's been in contact with her partner and son, tying up a loose end fans have been wondering about since season 5. Alexis appears again in a dream sequence alongside co-stars Madeline Brewer, Nina Kiri, Amanda Brugel, Samira Wiley, and Bahia Watson, where June imagines the Handmaids meeting under different circumstances, if Gilead never existed, singing karaoke without a care in the world.
'I hope viewers take away to keep hope alive when things seem impossible,' Alexis told THR of Emily's reappearance. 'Even if it seems like seeds you plant couldn't possibly grow, plant seeds of hope anyway. You never know; they might find a way.'
Elisabeth, who directed the episode, was especially excited to reunite with her co-star. 'My first official scene day one [on set] was with Alexis,' she told THR. 'So it meant a lot to get to work with her again.' Showrunner Bruce Miller echoed that sentiment, saying, 'It was wonderful to see her and Lizzie get right back into it after all that time. It's like watching the fucking Yankees bullpen every day with these guys. They're so good.'
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CNET
40 minutes ago
- CNET
I'd Keep Hulu on My Streaming Bingo Card in June and These Other Services, Too
Although the summer solstice isn't until June 20, you may've already proclaimed the start of summer with vacay plans and an entertainment checklist. Picking something good to stream on TV is part of those plans, right? Sports fans will be tuning in for the NBA Finals this month, Hulu is cooking with The Bear and Netflix is set to pull us in for new seasons of Squid Game and Ginny & Georgia. And if you're into reality TV, Love Island USA is returning this month, too. If you're worried about spreading your streaming budget too thin, don't. In my opinion, June isn't exploding with too many must-see releases so you can juggle your subscriptions with a touch of JOMO -- the joy of missing out -- and curate your watch lists to align with your wallet. How so? I'm sharing my advice on how to rotate -- or churn your subscriptions like ice cream. Subscribe, stream, cancel after a show ends, then do it all again. Or just wait a little longer for episodes to stack up before activating that subscription. Not only does it keep things interesting but it helps you save cash when Disney Plus, Max, Netflix and others don't have what you feel like watching. But remember to shut off auto-renewal for your subscriptions. This method might not work if you're sharing your account but I say give it a try if you can. Here are my recommendations for which services to cancel or keep in June, based on the newest movies, shows and events coming to each streamer (I didn't consider live TV streaming services). Your tastes may differ but I encourage you to switch up your services for potential savings. It's simpler than you may realize. Read more: Best Streaming Services of 2025 NBCUniversal Streaming rotation June 2025 Keep Cancel Hulu X Netflix X Disney Plus X X Paramount Plus X Peacock X Max X X Prime Video X Starz X Apple TV Plus X Best streaming services to have in June Hulu: I don't know if you have Hulu but The Bear is back at the end of the month on June 25 so subscribe wisely if you're a fan. Other new arrivals: Presence on June 3 and Predator: Killer of Killers on June 6. Disney Plus: Marvel's Ironheart premieres June 24! Follow RiRi Williams in a series where magic and tech collide. Other releases you may want to catch are Phineas and Ferb season 5 (June 6) and Sally, a documentary about astronaut Sally Ride with a look into her personal life (June 17). Netflix: You're getting Squid Game and Ginny & Georgia in the same month, folks. Check the dates for those along with what else is coming: Ginny & Georgia, season 3 (June 5) Tires, season 2 (June 5) Straw -- from Tyler Perry (June 6) Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy (June 10) Titan: The OceanGate Disaster (June 11) Fubar, season 2 (June 12) The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish, season 2 (June 12) Rana Naidu (June 13) KPop Demon Hunters (June 20) Squid Game, season 3 (June 27) What horrors await us in the final season of Netflix's Squid Game? No Ju-han/Netflix Peacock: There are several reasons to have Peacock on tap. Keep watching Poker Face this month and Love Island USA, season 7, when it premieres June 3. More reality shows from Bravo will stream and all the Jaws movies hit on June 15. Plus you can stream the Law & Order: Organized Crime, season 5 finale (June 12), and the new show, Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together, this month as well. Prime Video: We know you probably automatically have access to Prime Video, so tune in and cross your fingers as Sean Bean survives Deep Cover (no, not a remake of the 1992 movie), a crime comedy also starring Orlando Bloom, Bryce Dallas Howard and Nick Mohammed that debuts on June 12. Also premiering this month are Countdown on June 25 (featuring Jensen Ackles), crime doc ROMCON: Who the F**k is Jason Porter? (June 13), and an adaptation of We Were Liars on June 18. Cancel these services in June Starz: Only keep Starz if you want to watch the new season of BMF each week. If not, skip it. Max: This one is on the fence for whether to keep or cancel and it all depends on your level of fandom. A Minecraft Movie is coming sometime this month and you can also watch finals for NBA or the Stanley Cup. And if you're a fan, continue watching And Just Like That… or don't. More drops: The Alto Knights hits on June 6, The Gilded Age, season 3 (June 22), The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie arrives June 27 and My Mom Jayne -- from Mariska Hargitay lands June 27. Skip Max if you're not interested in any of this. Apple TV Plus: Murderbot is still going and Apple TV Plus has new debuts for Stick on June and The Bucaneers on June 18. You can wait to binge all of it later in the year, though. Paramount Plus: The MobLand season finale is June 1 so you may want to cancel after that. If you don't want to drop Paramount Plus, you can stream the Tony Awards (June 8), WNBA games or the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (June 22). Additionally, Criminal Minds: Evolution will stream into July and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars continues to air this month. Honestly, I would binge Murderbot's 10 episodes down the road. Apple TV Plus Your patience can save streaming dollars In this economic climate, money matters. Rotate your subscriptions to cut your streaming expenses, because if you can wait patiently until most or all episodes of your favorite shows are on a service, you save. Forget being billed several months just to watch a show that lasts six or 10 weeks when you can binge-watch everything in one month instead. This is ideal for those who love binges or a condensed viewing schedule. Now is a good time to re-subscribe to Disney Plus if you want to watch Ironheart but you can also choose to stream all six episodes in July. Think about watching The Gilded Age on Max in August -- or later -- when all eight episodes are streaming, and maybe do the same for BMF on Starz. Cancel if you're not streaming, watch content a month or so later in its season or wait to binge everything months later. Consider what you pay for streaming each month and do the math. Netflix ranges from $8 to $25 (plus extra member fees), Paramount Plus starts at $8 and Apple TV Plus is $10. Depending on bundles, Disney Plus is anywhere from $10 to $27. Max costs $10 to $21, Hulu is $10 a month, Starz runs $11 now and Peacock starts at $8 monthly. If you choose to rotate, set calendar alerts to remind you when to resubscribe or cancel. Check back in July for a new lineup of streaming service keep or cancel suggestions.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Going bananas: Why Savannah Bananas tickets cost more than a Dodgers-Yankees rematch
In a region where baseball is king, the long-awaited rematch of last year's World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees is unfolding. Ohtani. Judge. Two of the game's best, facing off once more. But just down the 5 Freeway in Anaheim, the home of Disney, the hottest ticket in baseball this weekend belongs to a stilted pitcher, juggling infielders and a yellow-suited, top hat-wearing carnival barker. Advertisement For back-to-back nights, more than 45,000 fans packed the Big A to see the Savannah Bananas — a team born from a small-time collegiate summer team that became a tour de force that has forever changed baseball. It was one stop during the Bananas' most audacious barnstorming effort since their baseball traveling show hit the road just a few years ago. The Savannah Bananas celebrate amid confetti after beating the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) These tickets were only available through a lottery — reserved months in advance. And when they went on sale, all were gone in an instant. The only way in was through the resale market, where just hours before first pitch on Friday, the lowest price (fees and taxes included) for a pair of tickets on StubHub was $209.52. Meanwhile, two lowest price StuHub tickets for the Dodgers versus Yankees game were available for $171.72. Advertisement All for the sake of 'Banana Ball.' This baseball game is a ballyhoo. One rooted in the thrills, energy and pageantry of early 20th-century carnivals, but with a 21st-century twist — the atmosphere of a TikTok reel brought to life. It's the showmanship of Ringling Brothers Circus combined with the athletic flair of the Harlem Globetrotters. Read more: Meet the Savannah Bananas, who've captivated fans and MLB. 'We exist to make baseball fun' But above all, it's a brand built on Walt Disney's blueprint— not just to entertain, but to make the audience feel. 'When you look at all the touch points — the joy, the fun, the dancing, the celebrating — and think about all the different stages, just like Walt, we think about all the stages: from the parking lot to the plaza, to the upper deck, to the dugouts,' said Bananas owner Jesse Cole, the man in the top hat. 'How do we make someone feel something?' Advertisement Instead of lounging in a cushy, air-conditioned owner's suite, Cole is in the dugout hours before showtime — a Disney-like archetype, his energy as vibrant as his layered, all-yellow suit, braving the afternoon heat. Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole leads the crowd in a cheer as his team takes on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) 'Nonstop,' Cole said, describing Banana Ball in a nutshell. Refusing to sit, not wanting to lose an ounce of edge, he added, 'It's all about energy. We want to give people energy, delivering it every second, from the moment we open the gates at two o'clock until the last fan leaves at 11.' While gates opened at 2 p.m., fans began arriving as early as 11 a.m. — clamoring for a shot at Banana-themed merchandise, many leaving the team tents with bags in both hands. In the parking lot, two young boys passed the time playing catch, gloves in hand. Advertisement As the afternoon wore on and the temperature climbed to 91 degrees, crowds trudged through the heat, some seeking refuge beneath the oversized Angels helmets at the stadium entrance, all for a chance to meet their favorite Banana Ballers. At the pregame plaza party, fans collected autographs, posed for photos and presented handmade gifts to players. Savannah Bananas mascot Split marches through the crowd before the team's game against the Firefighters at Angel Stadium Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) When the gates opened, the LaCaze family pointed out their 9-year-old daughter's favorite player, David 'DR' Meadows. Decked out in her signed Meadows jersey, Carrigan LaCaze ran into his arms, with glove and oversized baseball clutched tightly and began speaking with him as if they were old friends. 'I ran to DR, and we started hugging and just started talking for a while because I missed him,' Carrigan LaCaze said. 'Tomorrow is actually one year on the dot since I met him.' Advertisement A Christmas road trip planned around the holidays, the family of four traveled across three states from their home in Alexandria, La., to Anaheim for two reasons: to visit Disneyland and see the Bananas. It was their second game — the family first saw the Bananas in the club's hometown of Savannah, Ga., when Carrigan, who is battling cystic fibrosis, was granted a Make-A-Wish experience so meaningful it was a no-brainer to relive it. 'It's great,' her father, Pierre LaCaze, said of the player interactions. 'We've gotten to keep track with some of them during the course of the year. We come back, we see them again. You know they're truly about the fans.' Rainer Easton, 11, tries to catch a yellow "Banana Ball" from the stands before the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) The Bananas don't sell tickets. They sell connections, moments and memories. Advertisement For Cole, meetings are a constant brainstorming session on how to keep fans engaged and interacting. That's how he measures success. He says when the focus shifts to transactions, the game begins to lose its meaning. 'Our success is not judged by revenue,' Cole said. 'It's not judged by sales. It's judged by the moments we create.' But the numbers don't lie. The last time the Bananas came to Southern California, they played in front of 5,000 fans at LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga in 2023 — a far cry from now selling out 18 major league ballparks and three football stadiums with capacities over 70,000. Fans fill the stands as the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters in front of a sold out crowd Friday at Angel Stadium. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Attendance has soared year after year. Last season, the Bananas drew one million fans. This year, that number is expected to double, with more than three million people on the waitlist for their ticket lottery. Every game since February has sold out and every date in June and July is as well. Advertisement Michael and Melinda Schulteis, a husband and wife from Mission Viejo, were there the last time the Bananas came to town. When they heard the team was returning, they knew they couldn't miss it. 'The intimate atmosphere at the last event was great,' Melinda Schulteis said. 'But I'm curious, because they do such a good job putting on events, what touches are they going to add to still keep it close and intimate and give us another great experience?' Read more: What is Banana Ball? Here are the Savannah Banana rules of the game As the Bananas' success and reach have grown, spilling out from cozy minor league parks into stadiums not built for intimacy, the games still feel like family gatherings. Whether serenading players with stadium anthems like Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer' or the waving of phone lights to Coldplay's 'Yellow,' the crowd moves in sync, no matter the tune. Advertisement While they're a privately owned team and don't disclose revenue figures, they've confirmed generating millions. Much like their box office appeal, their social media reach extends into the millions as well. The Savannah Bananas perform a kick line before taking on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Their antics — choreographed dances, lip-synced walk-ups, backflip outfield catches — have attracted nearly 10 million followers on TikTok, almost double the combined total of the Dodgers and Angels. That viral mastery, and the parasocial bonds it fosters, is part of what makes every game feel tight-knit. With his glove by his side, hoping to catch a foul ball for an out — one of the many offbeat rules of Banana Ball — Michael Schulties was disappointed he missed his favorite player, RobertAnthony Cruz, whom he first discovered on social media through his baseball coaching channel, better known as 'Coach RAC.' Advertisement Cruz, who drew the longest meet-and-greet line, is a former minor leaguer in the Nationals' farm system and a local — born just an hour away in Fontana. The game was a homecoming for Cruz, who joined the Bananas in 2023. With more than 70 family members and friends in attendance — and even more social media direct messages asking for tickets — playing in big league stadiums has become a dream come true, especially for a former minor leaguer whose baseball ambitions nearly died when he never got the call to the show. Savannah Bananas pitcher Correlle Prime delivers at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Behind all the gimmicks, wackiness and absurdity, the roster is still filled with ballplayers — many of them with unrealized MLB dreams — now finding a second life through Banana Ball. And for Cruz, it's the happiest he's ever been in the sport. Advertisement 'I never would have imagined playing in this capacity,' Cruz said. 'Banana Ball didn't even exist when I was pursuing my dream of professional baseball. To be here, to see a sold-out crowd at a stadium that I went to growing up all the time, it's very special.' As the team travels the nation, sold-out crowds and newfound stardom have become the norm for Cruz. 'I'm not surprised by anything anymore,' Cruz said. 'If you told me that we're playing on the moon next year, I'd be like, 'All right, cool. Let me know when and where, and I'll be there' … I wouldn't be surprised if this thing continues to grow at an unprecedented rate.' Read more: It's time for Banana Ball! The story of the Savannah Bananas Advertisement Despite their growing success, the Bananas' brand of baseball remains polarizing — an easy target for detractors of zaniness, gatekeepers of fun and opponents of pizzazz who either don't understand it or refuse to see its appeal. 'Anybody that criticizes this, we're not for them,' Cole said. 'There's tradition in baseball, perfect. They've got Major League Baseball. … For people that want to come out and have fun, not take themselves too seriously and see something they've never seen before — and hopefully see the greatest show in sports — we built something for you.' The formula works. And again, the numbers don't lie. The Savannah Bananas' Jackson Olson celebrates a Troy Glaus base hit while the Bananas take on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. Comedian Bert Kreischer celebrated behind the Bananas in the dugout. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Yes, the Savannah Bananas' brand of baseball is far too outlandish ever to be compared to the major leagues — from flaming baseballs, rump-shaking umps and dress rehearsals. That's the point. It all feels like something conjured from the wildest dreams of the late Bill Veeck's imagination found a home, in a good way. Advertisement With many of the Banana Ball's 11 rules — like an automatic strike when hitters step out of the box or ejecting bunting hitters because bunting 'sucks' — are grounded in some sports-based logic, the innovations remain sacrilegious to baseball purists. But for a fleeting moment in December, Major League Baseball and Banana Ball were almost linked. In Banana Ball, the Golden Batter rule allows teams, once per game, to send their best hitter to the plate regardless of where they fall in the batting order. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred caused a stir when he floated a potential seismic rule by floating, making an offhand comment about the golden batter rule. Manfred later clarified it was merely 'a very preliminary conversation' among members of the league's competition committee and had not been formally discussed by the full ownership group. Advertisement A far-fetched idea, but Manfred has ushered in sweeping changes, from the widely praised pitch clock to the more contentious extra-inning 'ghost runner.' 'Anything that's best for the fans, I'm all in,' Cole said of its potential. 'I know Major League Baseball won't do it because of traditions, but ... we've had a lot of fun doing it.' The Firefighters run on the field before taking on the Savannah Bananas at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) But MLB would be behind the Bananas, who already introduced their version of the rule last season with a typical flair and showmanship. Their spin on it is a batter summoned from the dugout wearing a James Brown-esque cape and a gleaming golden helmet — an honor that went to Joe Lytle, who came to bat in the top of the ninth for the Bananas' Anaheim opponent, the Firefighters. Advertisement Ultimately, in a game where the score isn't the end-all, be-all — but the fun is — the Bananas beat the Firefighters 5–2. Like any other Bananas game, the festivities took center stage. It began with the 'First Peel,' a signature ceremony in which a young fan bites into a banana to declare whether it's good or bad — setting the tone for the night. Read more: How do the Savannah Bananas draw sold-out crowds? Five fun facts about the team Heisman Trophy winner and USC legend Matt Leinart threw out the ceremonial first spiral (because, of course, he did). And in true fashion, Angels World Series MVP Troy Glaus made a surprise cameo as a pinch hitter. Advertisement But what was more important was the trip to Anaheim, a fitting one for Cole and Co. The team that opened its season lip-syncing 'Be Our Guest' from the Disney classic 'Beauty and the Beast' — and its owner, cut from the same theatrical cloth as Disney — were celebrated a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth — Disneyland. Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole provides color commentary during the baby race between innings at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Greeted by fans in yellow gear, Cole's creation — the Bananas — marched in step down Main Street U.S.A., alongside Walt's own — Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck. 'When I walked underneath the castle and over the bridge and in front of thousands of people, they were all there for us,' Cole said. 'Then I look and see Walt's statue, holding the hand of Mickey, and I see that and I'm like, 'This is special.'' Advertisement It was a full-circle moment for Cole, who became 'immersed in the magic' after his first trip to Disney World as a kid — and who now says, 'In a perfect world, I'd play catch with Walt on Main Street.' Serendipity. 'For me, that was an emotional moment — to know that we have worked so hard to create something that means something to people, that they come from all over the country just for a chance to see us,' Cole added. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hernández: How Japan media track down Ohtani's home-run balls
Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani, left, watches the flight of his a solo home run in the first inning as Yankees pitcher Max Fried, center, reacts. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press) Shohei Ohtani was about halfway through his home-run trot when Taro Abe stood up from his second-row seat in the Vin Scully Press Box and tucked his green scorebook under his right arm. 'Let's go,' Abe said in Japanese. Advertisement Abe, a writer for Japan's Chunichi Sports newspaper, was followed into the concourse of Dodger Stadium's suite level by four other reporters from his country. They were on a mission: Find the person who caught Ohtani's home-run ball. There was nothing special about this blast, which was Ohtani's second on Friday in an eventual 8-5 victory over the New York Yankees. The homer was Ohtani's 22nd of the season and reduced the Dodgers' deficit at the time from three to two. 'We have to do this every time,' Abe said. This practice started a couple of years ago, when Ohtani was still playing for the Angels. The appetite for Ohtani content was insatiable in Japan, but the two-way player started speaking to reporters only after games in which he pitched. Naoyuki Yanagihara of Sports Nippon and Masaya Kotani of Full Count figured out a solution for their problem: They started interviewing the fans who caught his home-run balls. Advertisement Read more: Hernández: 'I have no words for it.' Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani inspires awe and confidence The feature was received well by their readers and gradually spread to other publications. Now, besides the homers that land in bullpens or any other place inaccessible to fans, a group of Japanese reporters will be there to interview the person who snagged the prized souvenir. Neither Yanagihara nor Kotani was on this particular journey into the right-field pavilion, as Yanagihara was temporarily back in Japan and Kotani remained in the press box. Both of their publications were represented by other reporters. I was there too. One of the reporters, Michi Murayama of Sports Hochi, looked at me curiously. Advertisement 'You're coming?' she asked. Abe joked: 'He's coming to write how ridiculous the Japanese media is.' As we walked down a carpeted hallway by the suites down the first-base line, Abe turned around and asked if anyone had seen who caught the ball. No one had. Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hit a pair of home runs off Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press) Before departing from the press box, reporters usually study replays of the homer to find identifying features of the ballhawk. But in this case, the scramble for the ball was obscured by a short barrier that divided a television cameraman from the crowd. Abe led the pack out of an exit near the Stadium Club. When we re-entered the ballpark at the loge level, we heard a familiar chant: 'Fre-ddie! Fre-ddie!' Advertisement The reporters stopped to watch the game from behind the last row of seats. Freeman doubled in a run to reduce the Dodgers' deficit to one, and pandemonium ensued. A young woman clutching a beer danced. Strangers exchanged high-fives. Others performed the Freddie Dance. Yankees manager Aaron Boone removed Max Fried from the game, and called Jonathan Loáisiga from the bullpen. It was time for us to move on. Seniority heavily influences professional and personal interactions in Japanese culture, which was why when we reached the top of the right-field pavilion, the two-most-junior reporters were told to find the ball-catching fan and return with him. Iori Kobayashi of Sports Nippon, 25, and Akihiro Ueno of Full Count, 27, accepted their fates without question. However, the veteran Murayama noticed they weren't making any progress, and soon she was in the middle of the pavilion with them. She came back soon after to tell us we were in the wrong place. Advertisement 'We have to go down to the Home Run Seats,' she said, referring to seats directly behind the right-field wall that are in a separate section as the rest of the pavilion. The ushers there were helpful, describing how the ball struck the portable plastic wall behind the cameraman, rolled under the barrier, and was taken by a boy in a gray jersey. Murayama found the boy and said he would speak to the group when the inning was over. 'They usually come after the inning because they want to watch the game too,' Abe said. Read more: Shohei Ohtani homers twice and Dodgers pull off another comeback against Yankees Advertisement While we waited, Eriko Takehama of Sankei Sports approached Abe and showed him a picture of a fan holding up a piece of the plastic wall that was struck by Ohtani's homer. The piece had broken off, and the fan told Takehama that he was taking it home. 'Do you want to talk to him?' Takehama asked Abe. 'He said he caught a ball three years ago.' Abe declined. While watching Max Muncy taking first base on an intentional walk, Abe said, 'Everyone has a story. You ask them where they live, where they work and there's usually something interesting. We're writing human-interest stories with Ohtani as a cover.' Advertisement This story would be about a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Monrovia named Fisher Luginvuhl. With his mother standing nearby, the Little League catcher gushed, 'It's like the best thing that's ever happened to me.' The reporters circled the boy and photographed him holding up the ball. They exchanged numbers with Luginvuhl's father so they could send him links to the stories they produced. While the reporters worked together to locate Luginvuhl, they were also in competition with each other to post the story first. Murayama wrote hers on her phone as she walked. Ueno sent audio of the six-minute interview to the Full Count offices in Japan, where the recording was transcribed by an English-speaking reporter, who then used the quotes to write a story. Walking to the right-field pavilion and back was exhausting. I mentioned this to Abe, and he reminded me, 'This was my second time doing this today.' Advertisement Abe wrote 13 stories on Friday night, 10 of them about Ohtani, including two on fans who caught his homers. Just as we returned to the press box, the next hitter was announced over the public-address system: 'Shohei Ohtani!' Abe laughed and braced for another long walk. Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
