Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had a delightful surprise for two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is having a magical season with the incumbent world champions and looks well on course to win his fourth MVP title this season. His numbers on the offense are remarkable, which can only be compared with the New York Yankees captain, Aaron Judge, who is also on course to win back-to-back MVP titles.
The Dodgers are currently playing a four-game series against the New York Mets at home in Dodger Stadium. Sometime either after game 2 on Tuesday or before the beginning of game 3 on Wednesday, Roberts called the Japanese star to his office to present him with a surprising gift, which was dedicated to Ohtani’s family and especially his newborn daughter. The two-way ace welcomed his first child with wife Mamiko Tanaka on Apr 19.
Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts And His Wife Gift a Toy Car to Shohei Ohtani’s Daughter
Upon arriving inside the Dodgers manager’s office, Ohtani was startled to see a pink Porsche toy car in front of him. Roberts explained that, keeping aside their ongoing joke regarding the car, he and his wife wanted to present Ohtani, his wife, and mainly his newborn daughter with this car, which they hoped would be her first.
Both Ohtani and Roberts shared a laugh and hugged each other as the room was filled with utmost joy at the sweet gesture by the Dodgers manager and his wife for the Japanese superstar and his family. The whole instance was shared in an Instagram post with a caption that read, “Doc and his wife bought Shohei’s daughter a brand new car…kind of.”
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The ongoing joke between the manager and player started when Ohtani had signed with the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season and then relief pitcher Joe Kelly gave up his No. 17 jersey for the Japanese ace. As a gesture of goodwill, Ohtani had gifted a brand-new Porsche to Kelly and his wife.
Last season, when Ohtani surpassed Roberts in the Dodgers’ all-time home run list, as a funny prank, he gifted the manager a toy-sized Porsche. Roberts has now reverted with his own sweet take on the prank and gifted a beautiful pink Porsche to Ohtani’s daughter.
Ohtani Has Been a Man on a Mission in 2025
Ohtani is bearing down towards yet another MVP title, which will be his second with the Dodgers, a third on the trot, and fourth overall in his already glittering MLB career. He has a .288 batting average, with 23 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a 1.039 OPS in 59 games this season.
Ohtani has amassed 68 hits in 236 at-bats, which include nine doubles and four triples. The two-way phenom is projected to hit over 60 home runs and register more than 100 RBIs in 2025.