Dodgers' Head Coach Reveals How He Convinced the 'Reluctant Resting Shohei Ohtani' to Take a Break

During their away game at the Colorado Rockies on the 22nd, the Los Angeles Dodgers won 9-5 behind Clayton Kershaw’s 5.2 innings allowing 3 runs. The spotlight, however, was on Shohei Ohtani’s day off, and there was much interest in how manager Dave Roberts managed to get this “man who refuses to rest” to accept the break. He revealed their conversation in a pre-game interview today.

The Dodgers are set to begin a three-game series against the San Diego Padres, battling for the National League West lead. Before this, they chose to give Shohei Ohtani a brief rest, marking his first absence since taking paternity leave on April 18-19, and his first time missing a game since May 1 last year.

Yesterday (the 21st), “Pitcher Ohtani” started and pitched 4 innings, giving up 5 runs and suffering his first loss of the season. He was also hit on the right thigh by a powerful line drive, raising concerns about his condition. Despite this, he appeared cheerful and relaxed in the resting area on his day off. He previously shared that “(the rest) wasn’t something I requested myself, but after discussions with the coaching staff and the team, we decided this was the best timing.”

Fans are also curious about how manager Roberts convinced the famously durable “man who doesn’t rest,” Shohei Ohtani, to accept a rest day. In a pre-game interview with Sports Net LA and other media today, Roberts disclosed, “I told Ohtani to take his time sleeping and that it was okay to come in later.”

This seemingly casual remark sparked lively discussions among fans on social media, with many commenting, “Will the haters call him lazy?” “He must have slept for 12 hours,” “That’s a good way to put it,” and “Taking breaks occasionally is what makes us human.”