Dodgers Interview: What’s Shohei Got In Mind for an Encore?
TORONTO — Shohei Ohtani spoke softly at his World Series Media Day scrum, giving Toronto its due and steering the spotlight back to the team in his own clubhouse. He praised the opponent, welcomed the noise, and said the Dodgers’ job is to play their game.
On the Blue Jays, he didn’t hesitate: “Their lineup is powerful and excellent, and when you include the starters and the bullpen, I think they’re a team with very high overall strength.” He added a clear target for his side: “They’re a tough opponent, but I want us to concentrate on playing our baseball first.”
The setting carried personal meaning. Asked about returning to Toronto, Ohtani said, “That period was a wonderful experience for me. Including the front office people, they were great. I had the impression it was a truly excellent team.” Facing them on this stage struck him the right way: “To play against people from that kind of team on this stage is something I think is wonderful.”
He was pressed about choosing among suitors and how he thinks about that now. “In the end you can only choose one,” he said. “If it were possible, I think most players would like to experience playing for many teams, but as I said, this is a wonderful city in a wonderful country. Being able to play baseball in a place like this becomes a great experience, and I hope to enjoy it.”
Confidence, for him, starts at home. “All the opponents we’ve faced so far have been great teams,” Ohtani said, “but we also have confidence in our own team.” He reached for the word that matters inside the room: “The bonds we have—everyone is confident in that, and I think we can show it during the game.”
The conversation circled back to approach. Ohtani kept it simple: “They’re strong across the board, but our focus is on playing the baseball we want to play.” He echoed that theme again when asked about the Jays’ October push: “You’re going to get the best from all their players now because they’re playing for the trophy,” he said. “We understand that, and we’ll keep our focus.”
There was a lighter detour about an MVP trophy placed in the middle of the clubhouse. He smiled at the prompt and waved off a full explanation. “There’s a story behind it,” he said. “It’s a long story… a lot of things,” and he left it at that.
The return to the city, the quality across the diamond, the belief in his dugout—Ohtani kept those threads tight. “I think we’re a team with high overall strength as well,” he said of the Dodgers. “We have confidence in each other, and I think we can express that during the game.”
He closed the loop on what matters most to him this week. “They’re a tough opponent,” he said, “and I want us to stay locked on our baseball.”
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