“Your throwing style is beautiful and cool,” Shohei Ohtani said, mimicking Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s windup. While Yamamoto proceeded with a polite bow for the compliment, Ohtani was trying his best to not lose the Try Not to Laugh face-off. Ever since the two got to be teammates in the professional league, fans have been watching more than just home runs and strikeouts. It’s just been a whirlwind of bromance and the fans just can’t seem to get enough of it. And well, here is another such aww-worthy moment.
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The Dodgers are off to a brilliant start, sweeping the Chicago Cubs in a two-game set in Tokyo. Shohei Ohtani, never one to miss a good show, added multiple hits, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was electric in his Dodgers blue, went five strong innings, allowing one run. This early success, on such a grand stage, helped to set a good tone for the team and perhaps even fostered a spirit of camaraderie beyond the diamond.
The chatter began, not on the field, but on social media. Shohei Ohtani, on his Instagram Story, casually displayed handmade gifts, which appeared to be handcrafted ceramic bowls of different sizes from teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani wrote in the story’s caption: “A masterpiece from Professor Yoshinobu Yamamoto.” One of the gifts featured Ohtani’s name and iconic number 17, and another had his dog Decoy’s name in Japanese. Further, the 30-year-old also shared a video of Decoy enjoying his meal in one of the ceramic bowls.
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This “masterpiece” exchange isn’t just a random act of kindness, it’s a glimpse into a pre-existing bond. Shohei Ohtani and Yamamoto have been friends since they played in Japan. Remember that dinner in Los Angeles with the famous chef? Yup, they appeared for that together. Or when Ohtani was beaming with pride for his teammate?
Back in October last year, the 28-year-old got the ball in the club’s biggest game of the season. In what was a dominant Game 5 for the Dodgers against the San Diego Padres, Yamamoto finished with five complete innings without conceding a run from the opposing ninth. Showing how proud his teammate was of his performance, Ohtani patted the young star on his head, all in good humor. The two even engaged in a big hug after the game.
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MIAMI, FL – MARCH 21: Shohei Ohtani #16 and Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of Team Japan celebrate after winning the 2023 World Baseball Classic Championship game over Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
It is safe to say that this is a relationship built on mutual respect. This history adds significant weight to the recent gift exchange. But this isn’t the first time such an exchange of gifts has happened.
Clubhouse chemistry and curveballs: The Dodgers’ early season
Shohei Ohtani has a reputation for generosity. He’s known for his thoughtful gestures, from gifting Beats headphones to the entire Dodgers traveling party for their Tokyo trip to presenting manager Dave Roberts with a playful toy Porsche after promising a real one for breaking his home run record! His wife, Mamiko Tanaka, prepared Hello Kitty care packages for the Dodgers’ wives and girlfriends. Talk about sweet gestures!
This culture of camaraderie and appreciation is not a hallmark of just the Dodgers. Players frequently exchange gifts to celebrate milestones, welcome new teammates, or just express gratitude throughout MLB. For teammate Brett Baty, Juan Soto gifted a $92,000 Chevy Tahoe for his jersey number. David Ortiz famously motivated Mookie Betts with jewelry. Jeff McNeil received a Ford Bronco as a gift from Francisco Lindor for winning a batting title. These gestures, whether large or small, emphasize the human touch embedded in the competitive world of professional baseball.
Yet, even amidst the heartwarming gift exchanges and early-season wins, a shadow of concern looms over the Dodgers. While their Tokyo series did go well as a whole, the concern is still looming large as top players such as Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Brusdar Graterol are dealing with injuries. This could pose a significant threat to the team’s performance.
The question remains though: Will the Dodgers’ fast start and positive clubhouse culture be enough to weather the lurking injury questions and offensive inconsistencies? Or will these early cracks widen as the season progresses?
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Edited by
Deepali Verma