Shohei Ohtani was the subject of boos and jeers during Games 1 and 2 of the World Series. Katharine Lotze / Getty Images
By Katie Woo
Oct. 26, 2025Updated Oct. 27, 2025 12:20 am EDT
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is well aware of how he’s perceived in Toronto, and he has heard what Blue Jays fans have had to say. Still, baseball’s two-way phenom couldn’t help but smile when he was asked about his recent reception from the not-so-friendly confines at Rogers Centre.
“It was a really great chant, and my wife really appreciated it,” Ohtani said, smiling, through team interpreter Will Ireton.
The home crowd at Rogers Centre let Ohtani have it during Games 1 and 2 of the World Series, with fans chanting, “We don’t need you!” — a dig at Ohtani’s free-agency campaign two winters ago. The Blue Jays were one of Ohtani’s most serious suitors before he signed a 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The chant first broke out as Ohtani stepped to the plate with two outs in the top of the ninth inning in Game 1, which the Blue Jays won 11-4. He worked a five-pitch walk off reliever Eric Lauer before Mookie Betts struck out to end the game. It broke out a second time during his first at-bat in Game 2.
Ohtani was also booed loudly by Toronto fans during introductions ahead of Game 1 on Friday. Television cameras captured the international star laughing as the boos rang out.
Blue Jays fans chanted “We don’t need you” with Shohei Ohtani at the plate.
Toronto nearly signed Ohtani in December 2023.
🎥 @timmacdonell pic.twitter.com/wJTr3X9ms8
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 25, 2025
Ohtani homered in Game 1 — his first in a World Series. He went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Game 2, with Los Angeles defeating Toronto 5-1 to even the series at a game apiece.
Ohtani is scheduled to start Game 4 on Tuesday, his first since his historic pennant-clinching performance. Ohtani racked up six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts — and homered three times — to sweep the Milwaukee Brewers and land the National League Championship Series MVP Award.
Oct 27, 2025
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