NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
In case you’ve forgotten, there has never been anyone like Shohei Ohtani.
The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar has an .896 OPS and 0.00 ERA earlier this season and has won numerous Silver Sluggers while being in the Cy Young Award conversation. Last year, he hit 55 home runs and pitched to a 2.87 ERA.
However, pitching and hitting in the same game has caused a bit of controversy.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Los Angeles Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani pitches during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center in Toronto on April 8, 2026. (John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images)
It’s been around since Ohtani joined the majors from Japan in 2018, but it began circulating during last year’s World Series that when Ohtani takes the mound after being on base, he’s given an extra grace period while he warms up.
Typically, inning breaks are two minutes and 15 seconds for home games, with an additional 30 seconds added for nationally televised games. However, Ohtani has inadvertently been an exception. Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider had a few words with an umpire during Game 7 of the World Series last year about the ordeal.
Well, Ohtani returned to the Toronto mound for a Fall Classic rematch on Wednesday and sure enough, he was given some extra time to warm up. Outfielder George Springer even had a conversation with the home plate umpire while Ohtani was pitching, but Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that it was simply to ask how much time Ohtani had.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of Game 7 of the World Series of baseball in Toronto, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)
LONG SUSPENSIONS GIVEN TO MEMBERS OF THE WILD ANGELS-BRAVES FIGHT WHO SAW FISTS AND TACKLES
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, however, seemed bothered by Springer’s apparent questioning.
“Just talking about the World Series, I think they were a little frustrated with how long Shohei is taking between innings. But if he’s on the bases, there’s got to be some grace, that the umpires are trying to give him,” Roberts said after the game, via The Athletic. “Yeah, if you’re on the other side, you’re trying to rush him as much as possible and treat him like any other pitcher.
“But the truth is that he is different. But I understand his complaint.”
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani greets manager Dave Roberts during player introductions before Game 1 of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, on October 24, 2025. (Dan Hamilton/Image Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
Because of his prowess both on the mound and in the batter’s box, Ohtani is the heavy favorite to win his fifth MVP award in the last six seasons.
