The world’s eyes are fixed on Shohei Ohtani, the dazzling Los Angeles Dodgers superstar who’s lighting up the 2025 World Series and captivating fans from Tokyo to Toronto. Even in a series where the Dodgers currently trail the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2, Ohtani’s legend continues to grow, both on the field and far beyond it. From viral parrots in Japan to chemists on holiday, people everywhere are talking about Ohtani’s remarkable feats and the unique challenges he faces at the plate—especially when opposing managers would rather walk him than risk a swing.
Ohtani’s star power is undeniable. In Japan, his face is seemingly everywhere—on billboards, in commercials, and splashed across merchandise. “He is the greatest,” said Hideyuki Kamimura, a devoted fan who heads a dental clinic north of Tokyo and makes an annual pilgrimage to Los Angeles just to watch the Dodgers play. Kamimura’s collection of Ohtani memorabilia includes three helmets, and his faith in the slugger is unshakable. “Ohtani has always delivered dramatic victorious endings from totally critical situations,” Kamimura explained, echoing the hope that the Dodgers can still turn the series around.
But it’s not just die-hard fans who are swept up in the Ohtani phenomenon. Max Bedding, a chemist from Sydney, beamed after buying an Ohtani cap during a trip to Japan. “Being in Japan, I’ve seen how much of a cultural phenomenon he is,” Bedding said. “He is a tremendous athlete.” Ohtani’s appeal stretches well beyond baseball’s traditional borders, making him a global icon and a marketing powerhouse—he reportedly earns around $100 million a year from endorsements alone, a figure that dwarfs his already massive $70 million annual salary (most of which he’s asked the Dodgers to defer, accepting just $2 million up front).
Back in the United States, Ohtani’s impact on the field is just as significant—though not without frustration for those who shell out for World Series tickets. In Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani was intentionally walked four times and walked unintentionally once during a marathon 18-inning contest that the Dodgers eventually won. The move, designed to neutralize Ohtani’s bat, left many fans grumbling. After all, they’d come to see the “best player on the planet” swing, not stroll to first base.
“That’s fair. That’s a fair take,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitted before a Game 5 loss that put the Blue Jays on the verge of clinching the Fall Classic. Roberts, never shy about speaking his mind, even mused, “Obviously, for me on the bias side, I would probably say I wish we could outlaw it because it would benefit the Dodgers.” The no-pitch intentional walk, instituted as an MLB rule change in 2017, has made it easier than ever for managers to take the bat out of a superstar’s hands—something that doesn’t sit well with purists or paying customers alike.
The strategy, however, is not always foolproof. In that epic Game 3, Ohtani got on base a record nine times, with teammates Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman following him in the lineup. Toronto manager John Schneider’s repeated walks eventually backfired when Freeman, batting three times with runners aboard, launched a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th inning. That blast made Freeman the first player to hit a walk-off homer in two World Series games, a feat he first accomplished the previous year.
“One team’s got to win and if that’s taking Shohei out, and not pitch to him, then that’s what they’ve got to do,” said Freeman, reflecting on the Blue Jays’ approach. “But that means Shohei’s on base, so that’s also good for the Dodgers.” The numbers tell a compelling story: since the 18-inning game, Ohtani is 0-for-7 with another walk and three strikeouts, while Betts has struggled, going just 3-for-23 in the series. The Dodgers’ offense has sputtered, hitting just .201 in the World Series—a stat that underscores the risks and rewards of the intentional walk strategy.
For Ohtani, the challenge is nothing new. He’s been intentionally walked 88 times in his regular season career, 20 times in 2025 alone, and eight times in the postseason—with half of those coming in Game 3. The tactic has historical precedent: Barry Bonds, the all-time leader, was intentionally walked 668 times in his career, including a record seven times in the 2002 World Series. Even the great Babe Ruth, the last true two-way player before Ohtani, faced similar treatment, though never quite to the same extent.
Ohtani’s unique talents have prompted MLB to make special rule accommodations. When he pitches, he can remain in the Dodgers’ lineup as the designated hitter—a luxury no other player enjoys and a clear strategic advantage for Los Angeles. At 31, Ohtani stands alone in the modern era as a genuine two-way threat, drawing inevitable comparisons to Ruth, who stopped pitching regularly after joining the New York Yankees in 1919. Unlike Ruth, Ohtani continues to excel on both sides of the ball, a fact not lost on fans and opponents alike.
In Japan, Ohtani’s influence extends well beyond the diamond. Even as the country celebrated the SoftBank Hawks’ 12th Japan Series championship—clinched with a win over the Hanshin Tigers, one of Japan’s oldest clubs—Ohtani’s games remained appointment viewing. He’s a staple in advertisements for everything from watches to bottled water to rice balls, and his popularity has spawned playful parodies, like Dodgers teammates mimicking his signature sunscreen gesture from a viral ad. In a particularly poignant commercial, Ohtani faces off against a computer-generated version of the late Shigeo Nagashima, a Japanese baseball legend who passed away earlier this year. The ad, true to Ohtani’s mystique, ends before the pitch reaches the plate.
Yet, for all the hype and heroics, the Dodgers find themselves with their backs against the wall as the World Series drama continues to unfold. The intentional walk debate rages on, with managers weighing short-term tactics against the spirit of competition and the desires of fans. Even Toronto’s John Schneider, asked about the possibility of abolishing the rule, quipped that there are plenty of other changes he’d like to see—like letting pitchers hit again. But baseball, as always, finds a way to keep everyone guessing.
With the series still alive and Ohtani’s legend growing by the day, the world waits to see what magic he’ll conjure next. Whether at the plate, on the mound, or in the hearts of millions, Shohei Ohtani remains the player everyone wants to see—and the one teams most fear to face.
