August 21, 2018; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani in the dugout against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker has to deal with Shohei Ohtani a lot, with Ohtani playing for an AL West rival. This led to a healthy respect developing between the two.
On Tuesday, Baker revealed the classy gesture Ohtani shows him when the Astros and Angels face off. Ohtani makes it a point to nod to Baker before his first appearance on the board of each game — then, Baker joked, he hits a home run.
Dusty Baker on Shohei Ohtani: “I admire him. He nods at me every time he’s at bat, then he hits a home run. I was like, hey man, stop nodding at me because I have to nod back. He’s a gentleman and you appreciate a gentlemanly competitor. pic.twitter.com/YC9DzWcYHf
—Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 19, 2022
“He nods to me every time he’s first at bat, and then he hits a home run,” Baker said. “I was like, ‘hey man, stop nodding at me because I have to nod back.’ He’s a gentleman and you appreciate a gentlemanly competitor.
No one at the All-Star Game had a bad thing to say about Ohtani. He’s a great player and he seems like a good guy too. Sure, he’s a serious contender, and even that showed in the All-Star Game. For him, acknowledging someone of Baker’s stature in the game shows how much his respect for the game also comes into play.
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