What MLB Says About Shohei Ohtani’s Warm-Up Controversy

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is at the center of a discussion about a specific MLB rule regarding warmup pitches. During the Dodgers’ 4-3 loss against the Blue Jays, at the top of the first inning, Toronto star George Springer was seen talking to the umpire as Shohei Ohtani warmed up to pitch his first frame. The exact details of the conversation were not clear from the video.

Still, Dave Roberts was seen shaking his head in frustration, and it seemed to be about how much time Ohtani was getting to warm up before facing the first hitter. Ohtani, being the leadoff hitter in the order, was on base after drawing a walk to start the game. He ended up stranded, prompting a full pit stop as he took off his positional gear and put on his pitching glove.

Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Because Ohtani was left on base, the umpires made sure he had time to warm up and get ready to pitch, prompting Springer to ask about the exact nature of lienancy.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Doug McKain (@dmac_la) According to reporting from Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic , Springer was not complaining about Ohtani’s warmup time, but rather simply wanted to know. This was not the first time the Blue Jays had complained about Ohtani’s warm-up. They were frustrated during Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, as he had a similarly long preparation window.