As Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani crossed home plate after smacking a homer in Sunday’s game against the San Diego Padres, he briefly stopped before greeting his teammates in the visitors’ dugout.
Ohtani, in a break from character, sought out a fan who had been relentlessly heckling him. Wanting to get the last word, the three-time MVP playfully offered the chagrined fan a high-five as a form of good-natured ribbing.
The fan, wearing a Fernando Tatis Jr. jersey, reluctantly obliged before sinking back into his seat.
“It was very out of character from Shohei, (but the heckler) was wearing him out the whole game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, via MLB.com. “So, it was good to see Shohei initiate a high-five from him. That was great. That was fun. It was good to see Shohei show his personality.”
Ohtani’s homer was one of the biggest hits of the weekend for the Dodgers, who won 8-2 to salvage the series finale at Petco Park.
Why Did Shohei Ohtani High-Five a Fan?
Ohtani and his Dodgers teammates had gotten an earful from the fan, and so Ohtani made sure to let him have it right back.
“He was just kind of talking to Shohei the whole game, so I’m glad Shohei was able to give him a little something else to cheer about,” Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said, via the Associated Press.
The high-five also got the attention of Dodgers play-by-play broadcaster Joe Davis.
“There’s a fan sitting right by the Dodgers dugout that’s been giving Ohtani heck all day,” Davis said. “After he homers, he says, ‘How you like that?’
“I’m sure it made (the fan’s) day. That’s a story he’ll always be able to tell.”
Ohtani — who did not speak to reporters postgame — was 0-for-10 with two walks in the three-game series before homering off lefty reliever Yuki Matsui in the top of the ninth inning.
The 409-foot longball was Ohtani’s 45th of the season, tying him with Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber for the NL lead. Seattle’s Cal Raleigh leads the majors with 49 homers.
How Did the Dodgers’ Win Impact the Standings?
By avoiding a three-game sweep, the Dodgers improved to 74-57 and pulled back into a tie with San Diego atop the NL West. The teams do not meet again in the regular season.
Ohtani’s homer was one of four hit by the Dodgers on Sunday. Freeman clubbed two, including a solo shot off Nick Pivetta to tie it 2-2 in the sixth, and catcher Dalton Rushing had a three-run blast off Jeremiah Estrada that put Los Angeles ahead for good in the seventh.
The defending World Series champions return to Dodger Stadium Monday for the start of a six-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Shohei Ohtani High-Fives Heckler After Homering in Dodgers’ Win