Fist pumps and F-bombs: Why Shohei Ohtani is more fiery as a pitcher with Dodgers

PHOENIX –– Ever since Shohei Ohtani began pitching for the Dodgers for the first time last year, manager Dave Roberts has made a repeated observation.“When he pitches,” Roberts said earlier this year, “there’s an alter-ego.”Almost like, when he’s at the mound versus when he’s at the plate, the two-way star takes on two opposite personas.To Dodgers fans, Ohtani the hitter is a well-known personality by now.He’s typically stoic, never over-excited, reticent to show much joy or frustration.

Only after history-making moments (like his 50/50 home run in 2024) or big postseason swings (like his momentum-shifting blast in that year’s National League Division Series) does he ever offer any type of animated response. As a pitcher, on the other hand, Ohtani has displayed a wholly different demeanor.There’s outward intensity.

An ever-present edge.And, in the most pivotal moments of almost every outing, an outburst of emotion that is telling of his mindset.“He’s definitely more fiery [as a pitcher],” pitching coach Mark Prior said.

“‘Ornery’ is probably too strong of a word.But there’s definitely more of a burn there.

He craves facing the best.He wants to show that he can get the best hitters out.

So I definitely think that motivation is behind a lot of it.You see that competitive fire.”Indeed, already two months into this season, you could put together a highlight reel of Ohtani’s most impassioned reactions to big outs on the bump.On April 15 in San Francisco, he punctuated a scoreless six-inning start by stranding runners on second and third in his final inning of work –– spinning off the mound with a fist pump and a yell after striking out the final batter he faced on the night.On May 20, in a hostile environment at San Diego’s Petco Park, he flexed his arms and screamed “Let’s go!” multiple times after escaping a bases-loaded jam with a double-play ball from Fernando Tatis Jr., the last act of a scoreless five-inn...