When it comes to playing with joy, few players seem to love the game more than Shohei Ohtani. He’s a generational talent who really does have fun out there. So, it takes a lot to upset him.
We saw that play out on Saturday night, and it resulted in the rarest of outbursts from Ohtani.
Batting in the fifth inning with two on, two outs and the Angels down by three runs, Ohtani — who already had a home run in the game — was called out on strikes on a pitch that initially appeared to be just off the plate. Ohtani tried to argue his case to umpire Phil Cuzzi, and on the walk back to the dugout, the Angels star couldn’t hide the frustration.
Phil Nevin got his money's worth after the umpire called strike three on Shohei Ohtani in a huge spot pic.twitter.com/vk7WlSyU3V
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 11, 2023
He appeared to shout the F-bomb and continued to argue from the dugout. That was when Angels manager Phil Nevin emerged to back up his player and was ultimately ejected.
Ohtani getting mad in the dugout at the ump and Nevin actually backing him up, did Shohei said F***K 😂 pic.twitter.com/BmkbUCRjpF
— 大谷翔平 ¹⁷ ⚾️Ohtani Shohei ¹⁷ (@shoheisaveus) June 11, 2023
Now, on the broadcast’s strike-zone graphic, the pitch did appear to be slightly off the plate. But those broadcast graphics aren’t perfect, and by MLB’s standards, Cuzzi did accurately call the pitch a strike.
The ball caught just enough of the plate to be considered a strike. But in real time, it looked like a bad call in a huge situation. No wonder that reaction from Ohtani surprised lip-reading MLB fans.
This was how Twitter reacted
You don’t see this from Shohei often 😂 pic.twitter.com/soYMw1D4Xd
— Marine Layer Podcast (@MarineLayerPod) June 11, 2023
Don’t have to even be that good of a lip reader to pick up what Ohtani said walking back to the dugout. Don’t blame him. But I will say : before the K zone box that may not be such a dramatic blowup. Maybe a cuss but seeing it instantly outside the box : draws instant anger
— Spencer Adkins (@SpencerWeather) June 11, 2023
Getting Shohei and Ippei mad this is something new https://t.co/95JyJtVnHP
— 大谷翔平 ¹⁷ ⚾️Ohtani Shohei ¹⁷ (@shoheisaveus) June 11, 2023
shohei and ippei combining their joint karma on that ump mhm https://t.co/P4FNoIVbiL
— JJK1 SOON 🎬⁷ shohei SZN (@joonarcade) June 11, 2023
This is pure GOLD🤣🤣🤣
I like seeing Shohei get like this😤 https://t.co/VgdfwEmSVl
— oh hi there (@TheTrollMiester) June 11, 2023
Oh so it's not just me lol he looked like he cursed "f*ck you" to me lmao https://t.co/m2HTiHcxDm
— 大谷翔平🦄 (@yunotanmin) June 11, 2023
The Angels ended up losing, 6-2.
