Ohtani: My wife appreciated 'We don't need you' chant

Shohei Ohtani commended Toronto Blue Jays fans for their creative trash talk in Game 1 of the World Series - and the Los Angeles Dodgers phenom wasn't the only one who enjoyed it.

"It was a really great chant, and my wife really appreciated it," the Japanese superstar said Sunday via interpreter Will Ireton.

With Toronto leading 11-4 in the ninth inning of Friday's World Series opener, a sold out crowd at the Rogers Center suddenly broke out into "We don't need you" chant as Ohtani stepped to the plate. The taunts were in reference to the dramatic December 2023 saga of Ohtani's free agency, when many around baseball erroneously believed he was on a plane bound for Toronto before he signed a record-breaking 10-year, $700-million deal with the Dodgers.

Los Angeles' manager Dave Roberts said ahead of Saturday's Game 2 that he didn't believe Ohtani understood the chants in the moment while focused in the batter's box. However, the skipper added that Ohtani likely understood why the Toronto crowd was booing him throughout the encounter.

Despite the heavy loss, Ohtani launched the first World Series home run of his career with his only hit in Game 1. And though he went 1-for-4 again in Game 2, he was the last Dodger to cross the plate in their 5-1 win following Will Smith's eighth-inning RBI.

Ohtani could get the last laugh without having to return to Toronto. The Dodgers could secure a second straight World Series title if they sweep Games 3-5 - all of which will be held in L.A.