WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday extolled Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani as an "international legend" during a White House event to congratulate the team on its 2025 World Series championship.
"He's amazing. Everybody loves him. Last year, Shohei did what was previously unthinkable," Trump said, referring to Ohtani's achievements, including hitting a career-best 55 home runs and collecting his third straight unanimous league MVP.
Comparing Ohtani to Babe Ruth, Trump said he is so thrilled to see the Japanese two-way player's performance, recalling that Ohtani last year belted three home runs and struck out 10 in six scoreless innings in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series to lead the Dodgers to the World Series for the second straight year.
"In fact, I was watching the game," Trump said. "I said to myself, that's the greatest game ever played by one person because you did the pitching and the hitting, and he's not finished yet."
Most Dodgers players visited the White House for the second year in a row, including Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who won the 2025 World Series MVP after earning three wins in the seven-game Fall Classic.
He pitched "an incredible Game 6, sending the Dodgers to an unforgettable Game 7," Trump said of the penultimate game in which Yamamoto held the Toronto Blue Jays to a run over six innings to pick up the win and keep his team in the series.
Trump went on to ask Ohtani and Yamamoto, "Who is the better pitcher?" with manager Dave Roberts breaking into laughter as the pair pointed at each other.
"Very smart," Trump responded. "You're both something."
