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WASHINGTON — Even President Trump, it turns out, professes to be a Shohei Ohtani fan.
So universal is Ohtani’s celebrity that during the Dodgers’ visit to the White House on Monday to celebrate their World Series championship, Trump dedicated a significant portion of the 20-minute ceremony to extolling the two-way star, making him the first Dodgers player whom the President singled out and approached to shake hands.
“He looks like a movie star,” Trump joked, before listing the many accomplishments from Ohtani’s unprecedented 50/50 season that made him a unanimous winner of the National League most valuable player.
Later, Ohtani spoke about the exchange.
“He said it was an honor to meet me, and I told him it was also an honor for me to meet him,” Ohtani said in Japanese, before joking that Trump was “taller than I thought.”
Shohei Ohtani falls a double short of hitting for the cycle, but defensive miscues prove costly in a 6-4 loss to the Washington Nationals.
“It’s really an honor,” Ohtani added. “I’ve come from Japan like this to play here, and I appreciate this country every day. I think it was an honor to be able to meet the top person in this country.”
Asked if he hoped to return to the White House with the Dodgers as champions next year, Ohtani answered affirmatively.
“I’d like to go as many times as possible,” he said.
And the slugger has been playing like it, starting this season almost exactly where he left off last year.
In his first 12 games Ohtani was batting .311 with a 1.081 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (almost identical to his 2024 stats), four home runs, five RBIs and two stolen bases. Among Dodgers hitters, only catcher Will Smith (who was batting .400 with a 1.117 OPS) had better numbers.
Ohtani’s highlight reel already is adding up, from his sentimental home run during the season-opening trip to Japan to his walk-off blast against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium last week.
He’s even started a new hand-signal celebration for the team — mimicking a melodramatic commercial he did for a luxury Japanese skincare company (which teammates razzed him about while watching it on loop during their trip to Japan) by dragging two fingers in front of his eyes while rounding the bases after his walk-off home run.
“It’s good for them to tease me and get excited,” Ohtani said when asked about the celebration. “I think the atmosphere is good.”
Ohtani broke out the celebration repeatedly Monday night. After going just one for 11 in a weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies, he exploded for a three-for-four performance in a 6-4 loss to the Washington Nationals.
Ohtani had a first-inning infield single, a third-inning two-run home run and a fifth-inning triple that hit high off the center field wall. Twice he had a chance to complete his second career cycle with a double. But, after striking out in the eighth, he settled for a walk in the ninth, trying to extend a Dodgers rally that fizzled for their third loss in four games.
“The at-bats Shohei took were pretty exceptional,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Even that last at-bat to earn a walk … and not try to chase a cycle, speaks to being a team player and passing the baton. He had an excellent night.”
The only thing missing for Ohtani is his long-awaited return to pitching. In another parallel to last year, the 30-year-old right-hander continues to slowly work his way back from a 2023 Tommy John surgery, throwing regular bullpen and long-toss sessions.
“The bullpens are going well,” Ohtani said, more than 18 months removed from his second Tommy John procedure. “I think I’m in a really good place feel-wise.”
But when asked how close he is to throwing live batting practice — a major step Ohtani got close to last year before pausing his pitching program during the playoffs, then having his winter regimen delayed by surgery on his left shoulder — he wasn’t sure of an exact timeline.
“I’m still at the stage in which I have limits on the types of pitches I can throw and limits on speed,” he said. “I think that will be something I discuss with the doctor and the team staff. Personally, I think it’s something I’d like to do not too far out.”
Ohtani said such limitations come from Dodgers brass and head team physician Neal ElAttrache, the renowned sports surgeon who has performed both of Ohtani’s elbow operations. For example, Ohtani has not yet been cleared to throw his sweeper. He only just reincorporated a few splitters into his most recent bullpen last weekend. During that session his velocity continued to hover around the low 90s.
The Dodgers visited the White House on Monday as players, coaches, staff and ownership were hosted by President Trump in a ceremony in the East Room honoring their World Series title.
“[Dr. ElAttrache] said that since it’s my second operation, it’s better to be careful,” Ohtani said. “Personally, I think I’d like to go along with that.”
So in the meantime, Ohtani continues to focus on the same designated hitter role he mastered last season; so much so, it prompted presidential recognition.
“Is he good?” Trump jokingly asked Roberts during Monday’s ceremony.
“He’s only getting better,” Roberts responded with a laugh.
“He’s getting better?” Trump said. “That’s scary for a lot of people, huh?”
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