When the Dodgers are on the sector, Shohei Ohtani dominates the headlines together with his base operating, his slugging and his pitching. However off the sector, his actions additionally resonate.
In a latest interview with Japanese media, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts advised a narrative of when the two-time World Sequence champion helped aid pitcher Gus Varland’s mom get most cancers remedy by making a “very, very big contribution.”
“Shohei does a lot of great things, but a lot of what he does is on the down low, quiet, so people don’t talk about it,” he mentioned.
Varland made seven aid appearances with the Dodgers in the course of the 2024 season — together with pitching within the season-opening collection in South Korea in opposition to the San Diego Padres — and posted a 4.50 earned run common in six innings of labor earlier than he was designated for project in July of that yr.
Roberts mentioned he bumped into Varland’s mom in the course of the World Sequence in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays as a result of his brother, Louis, pitched for them. Roberts mentioned the mom advised him she was most cancers free.
After spending his first six main league seasons with the Angels, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. In November, he gained his fourth MVP award in 5 seasons, changing into the one participant apart from Barry Bonds to win it greater than 3 times.
Ohtani helped the Dodgers win their second consecutive World Sequence title after hitting 55 homers with a batting common of .282 and an ERA of two.87 in 2025.
