Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez do not just represent two of the LA Dodgers' top players, but two of the top bats in all of baseball. Recently, the pair shared an organic interaction after a scuffle was spotted in the stands.
According to a video posted on X by a Japanese-speaking fan, both Ohtani and Hernandez witnessed a fight between fans from the dugout on Sunday. Although their exchange could not be discerned, Hernandez appeared to throw up his fists as if to imitate a fight taking place, to which Ohtani looked rather amused.
"A fight broke out in the stadium and Otani had this expression 😅 Teoscar tells us it's not a fight! #LetsGoDodgers," X user Robbie Morimoto wrote, as per Google Translate.
The amicable exchange between the two Dodgers sluggers came during their 9-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. Both Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez had a home run as LA pulled off the win, sending the Sox home with a series sweep.
From the early days of spring training, signs of a friendship between Hernandez and Ohtani became apparent to Los Angeles Dodgers fans. Most recently, the pair were part of the six Dodgers that played in the All-Star Game, the franchise's highest number since 2017.
Both Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez have had tremendous offensive seasons in 2024. On Sunday, Ohtani lifted his NL-leading 30th home run of the season and boasts a slashline of .315/.401/.638 with 70 RBIs.
"Shohei Ohtani is the first in the NL to reach 30 home runs! His fourth straight season with 30+ homers!" the MLB posted on X.
Hernandez came to the Dodgers as a free agent after playing for the Seattle Mariners last season. On pace to reach career-highs virtually across the board, Hernandez has hit .263/.326/.480 with 20 home runs and 64 RBIs in his first season wearing Dodger Blue.
Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez cheer each other toward success
Last Monday, it was Hernandez who emerged victorious at the Home Run Derby. Although many expected the Dominican slugger to contend, Hernandez credited Ohtani with helping him devise a strategy for the event, telling SI:
"[Ohtani] said to hit the ball to left-center, to not pull it, because I had a better chance, because of the way my swing was, to go over there, it's far, but he said, ‘It's better for you.’"
With the Dodgers expected to clinch the NL West in the coming weeks, watch out for Ohtani and Hernandez to continue acting as a dynamic duo deep into the fall.