It was a birthday to remember for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, and it wasn’t just because of the “cool jacket” and “nice little breakfast.” The true highlight was an unexpected luxury gift from his star player, Shohei Ohtani, and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka. In a post-game interview, a beaming Roberts revealed that the couple had gifted him a bottle of rare Japanese whiskey from Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s hometown, accompanied by an “amazing box of chocolates.”

“Great packaging,” Roberts enthused, “with a velvet, red velvet cap, you know, on the top, and uh, an amazing box of chocolates. I think there was like a dozen chocolates, and they were like square but really thin, and uh, I got a gift from Shohei.”

While Roberts deservingly attributed the gift selection to Tanaka, the gesture speaks volumes about the camaraderie and mutual respect within the Dodgers’ clubhouse. It’s a far cry from the toy Porsche Shohei Ohtani playfully gifted Roberts earlier this season, when he surpassed the manager’s record for most home runs by a Japanese-born player in Dodgers franchise history.

The whiskey itself is no ordinary bottle. Sourced from Yamamoto’s hometown of Okayama, it’s likely a premium single malt that could easily fetch $150+ for its rarity. Some market reports suggest that the highest-priced Okayama whisky, the Okayama Single Cask Whisky Sherry Cask No. 566, retails for a cool $1,999.00 or more.

The “amazing” box of chocolates further elevates the gift’s opulence. While the exact brand remains a mystery, their delicate square shape and thinness suggest they are artisanal creations, likely from a renowned chocolatier. This detail, coupled with the whiskey’s provenance, paints a picture of a meticulously curated gift, reflecting the thoughtfulness of Ohtani and Tanaka.

Shohei Ohtani’s friendly nudge for Dave Roberts to have a toast to milestones and memories

The birthday surprise wasn’t the only Ohtani news making waves. On Saturday night, the two-way phenom etched his name in MLB history by stealing his 100th career base, becoming only the second Japanese player to achieve the 100/100 milestone (home runs and stolen bases). The first? None other than the legendary Ichiro Suzuki.

Despite the Dodgers’ 4-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies on his birthday, Dave Roberts’ spirits remained high. “I didn’t get a birthday win, but that’s alright,” he quipped, perhaps already savoring the exquisite whiskey and chocolates that awaited him from Shohei Ohtani.

The Dodgers’ schedule can be a bit wonky, with a quick switch between home games and another trip to the East Coast, but Roberts isn’t letting it get to him. “It is what it is,” he said philosophically. “We’re not going to overthink it.”

Filled with a blend of luxury, good-natured humor, and Shohei Ohtani’s baseball achievements, this little birthday episode sums up the unique magic of the Dodgers’ 2024 season. It’s a team where a superstar player gives his manager a $2,000 gift of luxury indulgence, stolen bases become legendary, and a loss on your birthday is just a small bump in the road.