Does Ohtani still owe manager Dave Roberts a new Porsche?

Tokyo: Hey Shohei Ohtani, where is the fancy Porsche you hinted at giving your manager Dave Roberts if the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series?

Well, the Dodgers won the World Series against the New York Yankees more than a month ago, so what gives?

Visiting Tokyo on Wednesday and speaking to mostly Japanese reporters, Roberts was reminded that Ohtani gave teammate Joe Kelly a new Porsche when Kelly agreed to hand over his No 17 to the Japanese superstar after he joined the Dodgers from the Angels.


Subsequently, Ohtani gave Roberts a toy Porsche and then, according to Roberts, hinted the real thing might still be coming. “Where’s my real car?” Roberts recalled asking. According to Roberts, Ohtani replied: “If we win the World Series, maybe we’ll talk about it.”

Well, Roberts suggested he’s ready to talk, if it’s only in jest. “So we won the World Series,” Roberts said. “I don’t know. Good question.”

Ohtani can get better

Robert said Ohtani—who has won three MVP awards—can get even better at the plate. “ I think with Shohei there were some parts of his season where he was a little too aggressive swinging , ” Roberts said.

“And I think there’s still room in there for him to be a little more disciplined at the plate. We can make him potentially even better.” The Dodgers and Cubs open the MLB season on March 18- 19 at the Tokyo Dome.

Roberts ruled out Ohtani pitching in that first series.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen. I expect him to be in the lineup as a hitter,” Roberts said.

“But as far as the pitching. He hasn’t pitched in over a year. We have to manage how many innings he has for 2025. If we start him in March he won’t be able to sustain that through October. ”

Roberts, said he’ll rely on his star and trainers for guidance in 2025.