Shohei Ohtani is arguably the biggest global icon currently in MLB. He competes with icons like Roger Federer and Tiger Woods in terms of brand value and popularity. But does that give any leverage to get additional attention from MLB? Well, the long-simmering debate over Shohei Ohtani’s ‘special’ treatment boiled over on Wednesday, pitting his manager against a frustrated opponent and dividing the baseball world.
The Blue Jays’ DH George Springer reignited the controversy as Ohtani reportedly was given additional warmup time on Wednesday. Still, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts got his points in to defend his two-way superstar.
“Just talking about the World Series, obviously, they [Blue Jays] were a little frustrated about how long Shohei takes in between innings,” Roberts said after the game. “If he’s on the bases, there’s got to be some grace, which I think the umpires are trying to give him. If you are 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, he’s different.”
Well, there’s no doubt that Ohtani is different. He takes hits, and in the next inning, he is on the mound. But that surely doesn’t mean anything to the other 29 teams. On Wednesday, Ohtani took time to start his second game in 2026. Being a leadoff hitter, his start got delayed due to extra warmup time between innings, which drew complaints from Springer.
Dave Roberts said “there’s got to be some grace” for Shohei Ohtani as a two-way player when asked about him getting extended time in between innings to warm up.
“The truth is, he’s different.”
(H/T: @HyeseongKimMuse) pic.twitter.com/RRGQGcyMHR
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 9, 2026
While other pitchers hit the mound directly from the dugout, Ohtani returns from the batter’s box and then gets ready for pitching. Umpires give Ohtani this leeway because of his dual workload. According to Roberts, that’s just the ‘grace’ required for a unique player.
After Springer complained, Roberts looked visibly frustrated in the dugout, shaking his head.
And remember, this is not the first time Ohtani has gotten an additional privilege. In Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, Ohtani delivered his first pitch to Springer after the between-innings clock expired. Reason? He ended the top of the first inning on third base, then had to shift to the mound for the bottom of the first inning.
The same thing happened again, and Springer complained.
In 2022, MLB announced three pitch timer rule changes. But it is also stated that umpires may provide extra time if warranted by special circumstances. Roberts believes Ohtani’s unique role easily qualifies for that extra time.
However, it’s not just that. The MLB’s pitch clock rules also have a written exception for a two-way player. So, it is not just the umpires, but the rulebook also protects his transition time. But the fans are not in favor of the situation.
Fans differ with the Dodgers manager’s stance about Shohei Ohtani
Fans think Shohei Ohtani was just getting pampered to the maximum. “F— no lol. He’s coddled enough,” one fan said. “Give me a break. In MLB, it’s all about Sho,” another added.
This is not the first time that Ohtani was privileged by MLB. Back in 2022, MLB even altered its existing rules to accommodate two-way talents like Ohtani. Under the old rules, a starting pitcher wouldn’t be able to continue to hit once he was taken out of the game on the mound. The rule was changed, and the starting pitcher was allowed to remain in the game as the DH even after being replaced on the mound.
The rule was coined as the “Shohei Ohtani Rule” by the fans and insiders alike. Now, as Ohtani is getting leverage in not adhering to the pitch clock, fans wonder if he is getting coddled more than enough. “They already changed the rules to allow him to stay in the game as DH when he exits from pitching. What else do they want?” Another fan agrees.
“No, it’s his choice to bat & pitch. He’s not special, he’s a ball player !!!” One user remarked. “Pitchers batted in the National League for 100 years without getting extra time to warm up,” another added.
It was absolutely Ohtani’s choice to play both ways. “My goal is just to be able to play two-way as long as possible and to play baseball as long as possible,” Ohtani said last year.
So, fans wonder why to offer extra leverage when Ohtani himself wants to be a two-way player and not for others’ benefits. And notably, till 2021, the National League followed the traditional rule that all nine players on the field, including the pitcher, must bat for themselves.
So, while Roberts defends Ohtani as special and eligible for some “grace,” fans disagree and call for equal treatment.
