The Los Angeles Dodgers held their annual Spring Training buffalo wings eating competition on Thursday night, which Miguel Rojas gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at.
Rojas filmed himself talking with Dodgers teammates and asking the likes of Shohei Ohtani and James Outman who their pick was to win the competition. Rojas also detailed how he would go about needing to eat copious amounts of buffalo wings — wisely choosing ranch and blue cheese as prospective dipping sauces.
As for the Dodgers staff members participating in the competition, Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s interpreter, Yoshihiro Sonoda, garnered early buzz.
He delivered on that by outlasting the competition and earning the crown as the 2024 champion of the Dodgers’ wings eating contest.
Go behind the scenes with Miggy and the guys at the annual chicken wing eating contest. 😂 pic.twitter.com/5SXb9SV0H0
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 16, 2024
68 wings eaten
1 tongue mangled
Lots of memories madeDidn’t bring home the crown, but still retain the title of #WingKing with 70 last year. Probably never doing this ever again…I’ve had enough chicken wings for 2 lifetimes. #GoDodgers pic.twitter.com/ygY5OhaEF1
— Rob Hill (@Berticushill) February 16, 2024
Sonoda was showered with chants of “Yoshi” from Dodgers players and others who were in attendance, and implored to give a speech.
Dodgers director of Minor League pitching Rob Hill won the wings competition last spring. It’s organized each year by beloved Dodgers trainer Yosuke “Possum” Nakajima.
Who is Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s interpreter?
Sonoda is entering his first season with the Dodgers, and in his victory speech he thanked the organization for quickly welcoming him. Sonoda additionally remarked he can understand why Ohtani and Yamamoto chose to sign with the Dodgers in free agency.
This season is also Sonoda’s first in Major League Baseball. He graduated from Ryukoku University in Kyoto, and moved to the United States, where he became a lighting engineer for a film company in New York. Sonoda was selected from a large number of applicants in an open call to become Yamamoto’s interpreter.
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