Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese superstar of the Los Angeles Dodgers, surprised many by praising Toronto Blue Jays fans for his creative mockery during Game 1 of the 2025 World Series.
With the score 11-4 in favor of Toronto in the ninth inning, the Rogers Center crowd began chanting a loud “We don’t need you” as Ohtani prepared to bat. The chant made reference to the novel of his free agency in December 2023, when numerous media outlets claimed that the Japanese would travel to Toronto before finally signing a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers.
“It was a really great song, and my wife loved it,” Ohtani declared with a laugh Sunday, through his interpreter Will Ireton.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented before Game 2 that Ohtani probably didn’t understand the exact meaning of the chants while he was focused on hitting, although he did understand why the Canadian fans booed him throughout the game.
Despite the crushing loss in the first game, Ohtani hit the first home run of his career in a World Series. In the second game, he again went 1 for 4 and was the last Dodgers player to cross the plate after Will Smith’s RBI in the eighth inning, helping Los Angeles even the series with a 5-1 victory.
The Dodgers could now clinch their second straight World Series title if they manage to sweep Games 3, 4 and 5, all scheduled in Los Angeles.
