The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar turned 32 on Sunday, and Major League Baseball made sure the internet noticed. The league’s official X account posted a photo of Ohtani smiling while holding a dog, with a caption that listed his career honors. It was the kind of post that makes you forget, for a second, that this guy is also a Cy Young contender and a two-time defending World Series champion.
Ohtani has been dealing with a bicep issue that kept him out of the lineup recently, but he could be back on Sunday night against the San Diego Padres. He said through an interpreter that the pain is in the same spot he felt a few months ago, and that it went away quickly last time. “I was able to play through it,” he added.
Manager Dave Roberts said the team isn’t rushing any decisions about Ohtani’s next start. “We don’t need to make that decision today, tomorrow, the next day, so we have time,” Roberts said. “It’s more of reading and reacting on how he feels.”
Ohtani is putting together another MVP-caliber season, with a 1.79 ERA and eight wins on the mound, plus his usual damage at the plate. The Dodgers are 59-31, first in the National League West, and they’ve won back-to-back World Series titles. So yeah, the birthday post had plenty to work with.
MLB’s tribute listed out his career milestones: AL Rookie of the Year, four MVP awards, six All-Star selections, four Silver Sluggers, and two World Series rings. It’s a lot for nine seasons in the majors. But the photo with the dog was the real heart of the post. It’s hard to look at Shohei Ohtani holding a dog and not smile, even if you’re a Padres fan.
The Dodgers and Padres face off Sunday night in what’s shaping up to be a key divisional game. Ohtani’s availability remains a question mark, but if he’s in the lineup, you can bet the cameras will find him. And that dog? Probably not making the trip to San Diego.
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