We’re only two games into the 2025 MLB season, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are already making waves—thanks to a controversial call involving Shohei Ohtani that’s got fans crying foul. Ohtani launched his first home run of the year on Wednesday at the Tokyo Dome, helping the Dodgers to a 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs and a 2-0 start in the Tokyo Series. But the blast, a two-run shot in the fifth inning, came with some serious drama, and now fans are accusing the league of rigging things for the Dodgers’ superstar. Let’s break down what happened and why the pitchforks are out.
Ohtani, coming off a monster 2024 where he smashed 54 homers, stepped up in the fifth and crushed a 99-mph fastball to right-center. The ball looked like it might’ve hit the top of the wall—a double at best—but the umpires signaled home run right away. They went to review, and that’s when things got messy. Replay showed a fan’s hand on the ball, which should’ve screamed fan interference. Yet, the call stood: home run, giving the Dodgers a 6-2 lead. Ohtani finished the game 1 for 3 with two walks, and he’s now hitting .375 (3 for 8) on the young season after going 2 for 5 in Tuesday’s win.
Fans, though, aren’t celebrating—they’re fuming. Social media lit up with accusations that MLB is playing favorites with Ohtani and the Dodgers. “You mean the warning track fly ball that your umps rigged to call a hr,” one fan posted on X. Another chimed in, “Nope.
@MLB is rigged for the Dodgers. Gotta protect their Golden Goose.” The complaints kept coming: “That’s not a home run. MLB rigged,” said a third, while a fourth added, “No, it’s not. But wouldn’t surprise me if this shit is rigged for Ohtani and the Dodgers.” A fifth fan called it “casual fan interference for a HR,” slamming MLB for being “a little too obvious.” The sentiment’s clear—fans think the league handed Ohtani a homer to keep the Dodgers’ hype train rolling.
It’s easy to see why the call raised eyebrows. Fan interference usually means the play’s dead, and the batter’s awarded what he would’ve gotten—likely a double in this case. But the umps stuck with the home run ruling, and that’s what’s fueling the conspiracy theories. Ohtani’s a global superstar, and the Dodgers are coming off a World Series title—some fans think MLB wants to keep their golden boy front and center, especially in a high-profile setting like Tokyo. Add in the fact that the Dodgers are 2-0 and looking like a juggernaut again, and the “rigged” narrative starts to take hold.
Still, Ohtani’s hot start isn’t just about one call. He’s been locked in, showing the same power and patience that made him a 54-homer threat last year. The Dodgers are loving every minute of it as they head back to the States, but this controversy’s a reminder of how quickly fans can turn on the league when a call doesn’t add up. Was it a bad umpiring decision, or is there something more to the story? For now, Ohtani’s got his first homer of 2025—and a whole lot of noise to go with it. Let’s see if he can keep swinging through the drama.
