Shohei Ohtani doesn’t just make headlines for his towering home runs or jaw-dropping stats; he is also turning heads for something far more subtle – kindness.
During the broadcast of Dodgers vs. Yankees, network analyst Buster Olney revealed that Ohtani is the only player in MLB to greet the umpires before every at-bat.
“Umpires have told me Ohtani is the only hitter in the big leagues who will say hi to them before every plate appearance. So he’ll go to, a lot of players will go up to the plate in their first at bat and he’ll say hi at that point. He’ll say hit to the catcher. Ohtani will do it before every plate appearance,” said Olney.
Shohei Ohtani is the only player in MLB that says hi to the ump before every at-bat, umpires told @Buster_ESPN. pic.twitter.com/3AoQOTjeVn
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 2, 2025
Beyond his respectful demeanor, Ohtani’s performance this season has been outstanding.
Shohei Ohtani Continues His Stellar Form
Through early June, the Dodgers slugger is hitting .292 with 23 home runs, 39 RBIs, and an MLB-best 1.047 OPS. He is currently tied for the most homers in the league, putting him right back in the MVP conversation.
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His most recent performance came in a thriller against the Mets, where he crushed his 23rd homer and added a clutch sacrifice fly to tie the game in the 9th. Though the Dodgers would lose in extras, Ohtani once again proved he delivers when it matters.
The Dodgers are 36-22 and sit atop the NL West despite a string of injuries to their bullpen. With names like Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki sidelined, L.A. has leaned even more on its offensive firepower, and no one has been more important than Ohtani.
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