It is undeniable that Shohei Ohtani inspires admiration—though not from everyone.
This became evident in the bluntest way when he responded with a bold gesture to a San Diego Padres fan after hitting a home run.
Shohei Ohtani
MLB Photos via Getty ImagesShohei Ohtani Shines Against the Padres and Sends a Message to a Fan
The atmosphere at Petco Park reached peak tension during the Dodgers-Padres series, where a fan seated near the visitors’ dugout constantly reminded Ohtani of his recent struggles, all while San Diego celebrated back-to-back victories.
As the Dodgers entered the late innings with a five-run lead, Ohtani decided it was time to end his slump.
With one powerful swing, he launched a 409-foot solo shot to right field—and then made sure to dedicate it to his most persistent critic.
That'll Sho him!
Shohei Ohtani high-fived a heckler in a Padres jersey after homering yesterday 🤣 pic.twitter.com/OV5KclZt0w
— MLB (@MLB) August 25, 2025
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described the scene from his perspective: “It was really annoying, he was in my right ear the whole game,” he said, referring to the heckler.
What stood out most to Roberts was Ohtani’s response, which mixed humor with class.
After rounding the bases, the Japanese star approached the fan and offered him a high-five.
“That was out of character for him. The guy had been wearing him down all game, so it was good to see Shohei initiate the high-five. It was great, it was fun. It was good for Shohei to show his personality,” Roberts added.
Despite the growing tension between the two teams, the Dodgers’ superstar maintained his trademark composure and respect.
In previous series, when he was hit by pitches, Ohtani made sure to calm his teammates and avoid confrontation—even sharing a moment of mutual respect with Manny Machado after a controversial umpire decision.
