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The two Japanese superstars of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, shared a memorable moment as the team celebrated their National League Division Series victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night. Ohtani poured champagne over the head of an unwary Yamamoto while he was conducting an interview with a Japanese network.
MLB posted a clip of Shohei Ohtani playing the prank on his teammate on X. Here's the video:
The Dodgers faced the Padres in Game 5 of the NLDS at Dodgers Stadium on Friday evening.
Shohei Ohtani had a quiet game, going 0-4, but starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a solid outing, pitching five shutout innings while allowing just two hits and a walk. The Dodgers bullpen kept the Padres from scoring as solo home runs from Kiké and Teoscar Hernandez gave them a 2-0 win.
In customary fashion, the Dodgers celebrated their triumph by popping open champagne bottles inside the clubhouse. However, Shohei Ohtani grabbed the opportunity to have some fun at the expense of Yamamoto.
The two-way superstar sprayed the fizzy liquid all over his compatriot before emptying the bottle by pouring it on top of his teammate's head.
Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto repaying Dodgers for record-breaking contracts
Before the start of the 2024 season, Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the largest ever in the history of the sport.
A couple weeks later, the Dodgers acquired Yoshinobu Yamamoto, completing a 12-year, $325 million deal with the 26-year-old, the highest amount offered to a pitcher in MLB history.
Shohei Ohtani produced a historic campaign in his first year with the Dodgers even though he didn't take the mound, as he was recovering from elbow surgery in his throwing arm. Ohtani became the first member of the 50-50 club in the MLB, batting .310/.390/.646 during the regular season with an OPS+ of 190, including 130 RBIs, 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, meanwhile, also made an impressive start to his major league career, although he was limited to pitching just 90 innings during the regular season, as he had to spend a long period on the 60-day IL due to a rotator cuff strain on his right shoulder. Yamamoto made 18 starts in 2024 and posted a 7-2 record with a 3.00 ERA and 2.61 FIP.
Both Ohtani and Yamamoto have played a notable part for the Dodgers in their NLDS victory. Ohtani made an electric postseason debut with a three-run homer in their 7-5 comeback win against the San Diego Padres in Game 1. Yamamoto, meanwhile, had a rough outing that night but produced an excellent performance in the decisive Game 5.
The New York Mets will be their next opponents in the National League Championship Series, which kicks off on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
