The Los Angeles Dodgers took their World Series trophy to the White House on Thursday for the second year in a row. President Donald Trump hosted the team, and the whole thing produced one image that’s already doing laps on social media.
Shohei Ohtani standing next to Trump in the Oval Office, holding some USA gear, with the Resolute Desk behind them. It’s surreal. It’s also exactly the kind of visual that doesn’t fade fast.
Trump Compared Ohtani to Babe Ruth
During the ceremony, Trump praised Ohtani as a generational talent. He specifically compared the two-way star to Babe Ruth, which is a comparison that gets thrown around a lot but actually fits here. Ohtani is the only active player who hits and pitches at an elite level. Ruth did it a hundred years ago. The gap between them is mostly just time.
The Dodgers gave Trump a custom jersey and what looked like a replica of their championship ring. He posed for the standard team photo, then had a separate moment with Ohtani. Ohtani was also photographed holding a USA hat and shirt. The White House press pool captured the whole thing.
Not Everyone Showed Up
Mookie Betts skipped the trip. He told the team he wanted to spend time with his family instead. Kiké Hernandez also didn’t attend. He made it clear he wouldn’t have come even if he wasn’t on a rehab assignment. That’s two notable absences from a roster that’s still loaded with stars.
Edgardo Henriquez also reportedly stayed home. No official reason given there. The Dodgers haven’t commented on who else was missing beyond Betts and Hernandez.
Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and manager Dave Roberts were all there. They stood near Trump during the ceremony and took part in the photos. Ohtani, obviously, was the center of attention. That tends to happen when you’re the most famous baseball player on the planet.
The visit itself was standard White House championship stuff. The team gets recognized, the president says nice things, someone hands over a jersey. But Ohtani in the Oval Office with Trump? That’s the kind of image that will make baseball history more than the handshake line will.
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