What was supposed to be a celebration of baseball on the global stage has now been overshadowed by controversy.
During Wednesday’s MLB Tokyo Opening Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, Shohei Ohtani launched his first home run of the 2025 season – or did he???
With the Dodgers leading 5-2 in the fifth inning at the Tokyo Dome, Ohtani sent a 2-2 pitch from Cubs reliever Nate Pearson soaring to deep center field.
As the ball approached the wall, it appeared a fan in the stands reached over and made contact.
Despite initial confusion, umpires ultimately ruled the play a home run while Ohtani was rounding second base…
Video replay, aired by FS1, clearly showed a fan getting a hand on the ball.
Many watching believed that should have triggered a fan interference call, which would have likely placed Ohtani at second base. Instead, the call stood – and the backlash was swift and harsh.
Baseball fans across the internet erupted, accusing Major League Baseball of favoring Ohtani and the Dodgers in what they believe was a rigged outcome…
“Both days….announcers blow. This one, just gloss over the fan reaching a full foot over the yellow. 5 Japanese players and its all about Ohtani. Anyone else replays are all over the interference. Here? Willfully ignorant.”
“Any other player not a home run. Clear fan interference. Nonsense.”
Any other player not a home run. Clear fan interference. Nonsense
—Matt Cody
“That is not a f*cking homerun not even fucking close are we serious right now?!?!”
“Not a home run. Anyone but shohei and that’s an out.”
“So fans CAN reach over the wall and interfere with the play this year @MLB.”
“Manfred is killing baseball NO WAY that’s an HR he’s looking for the Japanese market. Can’t tell me that he didn’t know his interpreter was gambling and stole 17 mill and not involved but MLB looked the other way. 2 names come to mind Pete Rose and Jeffery Mayer.”
“Home Run*. It’s clear @MLB is in the tank for the Dodgers, and they gotta protect their Golden Goose in Ohtani. Total joke of a league.”
The uproar touches on deeper frustrations among fans who feel MLB has leaned heavily into promoting Ohtani as the face of the league, especially now that he plays for one of its most high-profile franchises.
His move to the Dodgers drew global headlines, and his Tokyo homecoming was clearly set up to be a spectacle. But critics argue that the spectacle may have come at the cost of competitive fairness.
While the Dodgers hardly need help – their roster is stacked with All-Stars – the league’s apparent decision to let the fan-assisted homer stand has left a sour taste for many.
What are your thoughts on the uproar over Ohtani’s double home run?
Do you think MLB and the umpires have any sort of bias towards the Dodgers???
