In a game full of heat, benches clearing, and ejections, Shohei Ohtani delivered the most unexpected play of the night, and it wasn’t with a bat or glove.
After Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr., emotions erupted. Padres manager Mike Shildt stormed the field, both dugouts emptied, and the crowd at Dodger Stadium braced for chaos. Minutes later, Ohtani was drilled in the back of his pitching shoulder by Padres reliever Robert Suarez.
Shohei Ohtani plays peacemaker at the end of another wild game between the Padres and Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/V03xUugs8z
— MLB (@MLB) June 20, 2025
What came next was something you rarely see in modern baseball.
Shohei Ohtani Wins Heart Amid Chaotic Game
As Dodgers players began climbing over the dugout rail, ready to respond, Shohei Ohtani waved them back. He walked calmly to first base, never saying a word. Then, in a moment that stunned fans and silenced critics, he later approached the Padres’ dugout, spoke calmly with coaches and players, and was even seen shaking hands with several of them on the field.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts summed it up best postgame.
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“Well, I think he knew it was intentional. He wasn’t hurt by it, and he didn’t want any more drama, which I respect that a lot,” Roberts said via AP News.
Shohei Ohtani and his team lost the game with a 5-3 final score, thanks to strong performances from Xander Bogaerts and rookie pitcher Ryan Bergert. Bogaerts had four hits and a home run, while Bergert tossed 4 2/3 shutout innings. The Padres held off a late Dodgers push and snapped their three-game losing streak.
But even in defeat, Shohei Ohtani stole the show without swinging a bat. Fans on social media and even the commentators during the game applauded for setting a perfect example for the younger generation. After the intense game, Manny Machado recently sent out a warning to the Dodgers.
