Fastball

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Goes Viral For Questionable Celebration

Shohei Ohtani made a lewd gesture after stealing second base on Wednesday, overshadowing the Los Angeles Dodgers' game against the Philadelphia Phillies by causing a stir online.

Sam Connon

Jul 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) smiles in the dugout prior to the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium.
Jul 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) smiles in the dugout prior to the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. / Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
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Mere minutes into the Los Angeles Dodgers' showdown with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night, Shohei Ohtani set the internet ablaze.

It wasn't in the way he usually does, either. The designated hitter didn't break a record or join "Tungsten Arm O'Doyle" in the MLB history books – he simply stole second base with two outs in the top of the first and popped up to celebrate.

Ohtani called time, pulled off his left batting glove and made a lewd gesture by shaking the glove repeatedly near his groin area. As cold as that description is, anything more detailed would likely be labeled as NSFW.

The ESPN broadcast didn't make any comments about Ohtani's interesting celebration, but fans online were quick to pull the clip and share their own thoughts.

There was only one possible explanation that cut Ohtani some slack, claiming that he was shaking dirt out of his glove.

The next time Ohtani stepped up to the plate, he delivered a game-tying RBI single to center, improving to 2-for-2 on the night.

Ohtani, who just turned 30 years old last week, is now batting .318 with 28 home runs, 66 RBI, 22 stolen bases, a 1.039 OPS and a 5.2 WAR so far this season. The two-time AL MVP is one of the leading candidates to win NL MVP this year, making good on the 10-year, $700 million contract he inked with the Dodgers in December.

Beyond his production at the plate, Ohtani has remained one of baseball's biggest stars this season. There aren't too many players who would generate headlines with an off-color stolen base celebration, but Ohtani is certainly on that short list.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a Staff Writer for Fastball on the Sports Illustrated/FanNation networks. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's All Bruins, 247Sports' Bruin Report Online, Rivals' Bruin Blitz, the Bleav Podcast Network and the Daily Bruin, with his work as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk.

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