The prank saga between Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts seems to be heating up again. And guess what, this time, it’s again about a Porsche. So, what started as a light-hearted gag in May 2024, when Ohtani gifted Roberts a miniature toy car as a joke, has now turned into an ongoing locker room saga. Nearly a year later, Roberts finally found the perfect moment for a payback. And, he made sure it was the payback Ohtani wouldn’t forget.

Well, the story began last year when Ohtani promised to gift Roberts a car once he surpassed the mark for most home runs by a Japanese player in Dodgers history. True to his word, Ohtani delivered. But the car that he gifted to Roberts turned out to be a toy that fit neatly in the palm of the manager’s hand. It was a well-delivered prank by the Japanese ace.

Then came round two. In March this year, Roberts approached what he thought was his car in the parking lot, only to find yet another miniature Porsche sitting in the spot. Here again, Ohtani had pulled off a flawless prank. So, after two strikes against him, a payback from Roberts was inevitable. And finally, he got his moment.

While this saga is far from over, the manager has now officially joined the scoreboard. “Doc and his wife bought Shohei’s daughter a brand new car…kind of,” the Dodgers’ official Instagram account wrote while sharing a clip that showed a remote-controlled pink Porsche Roberts and his wife had brought for Ohtani’s daughter.

Just when Ohtani visited his room, Roberts offered him the gift. Well, all Ohtani could do was smile, as this time, it was him who got pranked. “This is from my wife and me to you and your family and your daughter. So we have jokes always, but this is a little bit of a joke,” Roberts chuckled.

But was it only a prank? The answer is NO! It was more than just a prank. It was more about Roberts’ gift to Ohtani’s daughter. “This will be your daughter’s first car,” the manager added.

This prank saga, the scoreline of which is now 2-1, shows a healthy culture in the Dodgers’ clubhouse. And, the timing for this banter could not be better than this, when Ohtani is leading the hitting chart in the league.

Shohei Ohtani eyes consecutive MVP this year

The current form of Shohei Ohtani is nothing but deserving of a berth among the MVP nominees this year. Just when this season kicked in, there was a broad discussion about when Ohtani would come out of the slump. He was not hitting homers, and his power was not quite there. Well, the tables have turned now!

Currently, Ohtani is delivering another standout season at the plate for the Dodgers. In 59 games, he boasts a .288 BA, with 23 home runs, 39 RBIs, and 64 runs scored. His OPS stands at an impressive 1.039, ranking third in the league.

But while Ohtani is showing his vintage style with his hitting, the Dodgers are yet to get him on the mound. But guess what, that unfulfilled wish of the fans is about to be fulfilled. Ohtani is facing hitters in the Dodgers’ bullpen session, and his recovery from TJ surgery is going as planned.

Reportedly, he is just a month away from throwing fireballs in a live game. Maybe the Dodgers are keeping Ohtani for the postseason. Another MVP for the Japanese ace might be around the corner with hitting going as expected, and pitching on the way.

It will be fair to say Shohei Ohtani is offering the same punch that you get while driving a Porsche.