Trump Praises Shohei Ohtani at Dodgers White House Ceremony

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July 23, 2026
Professional Sports Sports

President Donald Trump compared Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to baseball legend Babe Ruth during a White House ceremony. The Dodgers visited the White House on their East Coast road trip, where Trump acknowledged Ohtani’s outstanding achievements.

“The 2025 Dodger season was historic in Major League Baseball’s 150-year history. No player besides Shohei Ohtani has achieved more than one unanimous league MVP,” Trump noted while holding a Dodgers jersey with his name and number 47. The event celebrated the 2025 World Series champions in the Rose Garden on July 23, 2026.

Trump praised Ohtani’s remarkable talent. “He’s amazing. Everybody loves him,” Trump expressed. Last year, Ohtani became the first player to win three straight unanimous league MVPs, with a franchise record of 55 home runs. Trump remarked, “To be the best pitcher and hitter at once is incredible, similar to Babe Ruth’s accomplishments.”

During the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Ohtani hit 99 home runs, leading the National League with a 1.025 OPS. He returned to pitching in 2025 after elbow surgery, recording a 2.87 ERA and 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings. This matched his 2022 performance, which led the American League.

Known as the “Japanese Babe Ruth,” Ohtani is the only MLB player with more than 300 plate appearances and over 40 innings pitched in six seasons. In contrast, Ruth accomplished this twice without stealing 50 bases.

Trump remarked on the Red Sox’s trade of Babe Ruth to the Yankees, calling it the worst trade in sports history. “Babe was 19, and they traded him for a third baseman and $100,000,” Trump commented, highlighting Ruth’s unexpected success in leading the league in home runs as a pitcher.

Currently, Ohtani maintains a .283 batting average, with 22 home runs, 60 RBIs, and six stolen bases in 94 games. As a pitcher, he holds an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, despite missing a recent start due to a knee issue. Ohtani aims to guide the Dodgers to a third consecutive World Series title.