Shohei Ohtani Gifts Dave Roberts A Porsche…Kinda

Published|Updated

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has a partnership with Porsche (must be nice), and he's taking full advantage of it.

When he signed in Los Angeles and took number 17 from reliever Joe Kelly, Ohtani gifted Kelly and his wife a brand new Porsche as a thank you. 

READ: New Dodger Shohei Ohtani Is Now Gifting Porsches

Now he's at it again. Sort of.

Before Saturday's night game against the Atlanta Braves, manager Dave Roberts revealed that Ohtani had given him a new Porsche in anticipation of breaking Roberts' record for home runs as a Dodger by a Japanese-born player. Ohtani walked into his manager's office, delivered the good news…and then handed him a scale model of a Taycan electric car. And then the two started laughing.

"He said he wanted a car," Ohtani explained through his translator, "I'm glad he's happy. He got a car."

Sure enough, Ohtani launched a home run in the third inning of Saturday night's game, breaking Roberts' "record." 

Shohei Ohtani porsche dave roberts

May 4, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Ohtani Won't Rule Out Real Porsche Later

After the game, Roberts interrupted Ohtani's press conference to thank him for the generous gift. Though the media asked the 29-year-old superstar if he'd consider giving him a real car at some point. And he didn't rule it out, "If we win the World Series, I’ll think about it," he said in Japanese.

As if Roberts needed any more incentive for the Dodgers to win the World Series.

For Ohtani, it must be fun to discuss winning the World Series and have it not be a pipe dream like it's been for the entirety of his career. Largely as a result of his exceptionally hot start, the Dodgers are 22-13 and 4.5 games clear of the second place San Diego Padres in early May. Fangraphs gives Los Angeles a 98% of making the playoffs, which would represent Ohtani's first career postseason participation. 

Though of course, making the playoffs is no guarantee of anything, but with the Dodgers getting Walker Buehler back Monday and a 8-2 stretch over their past 10 games, it's not hard to believe spirits are high in LA.