Shohei Ohtani Hilariously Falls Asleep Standing in Dugout During Dodgers’ Blowout Win Over Yankees, Sparking Social Media Frenzy

Shohei Ohtani is a once-in-a-lifetime talent whose every move is scrutinized under a microscope, but even he isn’t immune to a bit of human fatigue. During the Los Angeles Dodgers’ commanding rout of the New York Yankees on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium, cameras captured one of the most surreal and surprisingly relatable moments of the 2025 MLB season: Ohtani appearing to fall asleep — while standing — in the dugout.

Yes, you read that right. The two-way superstar, the face of international baseball and arguably the most electrifying player of this generation, was caught dozing off on his feet as his team piled on runs against a helpless Yankees pitching staff. As the broadcast panned over to the Dodgers’ dugout in the bottom of the sixth inning, a brief but hilarious scene unfolded. There stood Ohtani, eyes closed, completely still, swaying ever so slightly, his head dipped just a bit — as if he were meditating, or perhaps involuntarily entering a power nap in real time.

It was a moment that lasted no more than a few seconds, but that’s all it took for the baseball world — and the internet — to explode.

Within minutes, screenshots and short clips of Ohtani’s sleepy moment were all over X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and TikTok. Fans reacted with a blend of amusement, concern, admiration, and empathy. “Man’s got a 1.89 ERA and a .317 average and y’all expect him to be fully awake too?” one fan wrote. Another quipped, “Even Shohei runs on low battery sometimes.” Memes popped up almost instantly — from Ohtani being Photoshopped into a mattress commercial, to someone adding a thought bubble over his head reading, “Just five more minutes, coach.”

But while the moment was hilarious, it also subtly underscored just how taxing the life of a two-way player can be — especially one who plays in a city with the spotlight as bright as Los Angeles and with the expectations of being a billion-dollar brand ambassador for the sport of baseball. Since signing with the Dodgers this past offseason on a record-breaking $700 million contract, Ohtani has done nothing but meet and often exceed expectations. He’s one of the league leaders in home runs, extra-base hits, and OPS, and though he’s not pitching this season due to Tommy John recovery, he’s still drawing more attention than any other player in the league.

The Dodgers-Yankees matchup, a marquee interleague showdown between two of baseball’s most iconic franchises, was already bursting with anticipation. The stadium was sold out. Celebrities dotted the front rows. ESPN led with coverage of the game hours in advance. This wasn’t just a ballgame; it was a baseball event — one with potential World Series implications.

And yet, amid all that noise, Shohei Ohtani stood silently in the dugout and just… drifted off.

It was, in many ways, the perfect snapshot of how long the MLB season really is. This was the Dodgers’ 61st game of the season, just past the one-third mark. Ohtani has been in the lineup nearly every day. He’s taken batting practice, handled interviews, fulfilled sponsor obligations, and stayed late for treatment. If there’s any player with a legitimate excuse to catch a nap in the middle of the action, it’s him.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts laughed when asked about it postgame. “Shohei’s fine. He’s probably the only guy who can hit a 450-foot homer, steal a base, and still manage to get a catnap in during the sixth inning. That’s just Shohei. He’s earned it.”

The Dodgers’ clubhouse was also amused by the moment. Teammates like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman chuckled when shown the clip during media scrums. “Honestly, I’m jealous,” Betts said. “I wish I had that kind of balance. I’d fall right over.”

Some even speculated that the moment may not have been full-on sleep but more of a deep focus, or even a traditional Japanese breathing practice Ohtani sometimes uses to center himself. But then again, the gentle bob of his head and the serenity of his expression suggested something a little more primal — like the body simply shutting down for a quick recharge.

Regardless of the details, it added a much-needed human moment to a game that was otherwise lopsided and lacked drama on the scoreboard. The Dodgers rolled to a 12–2 victory, pummeling Yankees starter Carlos Rodón and taking full advantage of a shaky New York bullpen. Ohtani had done his damage early — blasting a two-run homer in the second inning and lacing a double in the fourth. By the time the dugout nap occurred, the Dodgers were already cruising, and his work was largely done for the night.

That he could even consider relaxing midgame shows the trust Roberts has in him and the unique nature of his role on the team. Most players don’t fall asleep on their feet in front of national television cameras. Then again, most players aren’t Shohei Ohtani.

The Yankees, meanwhile, had no such reason for relaxation. The team has been slumping over the past two weeks, and this loss marked their fifth in their last seven games. Though Aaron Judge homered in the loss and continues his own MVP-caliber campaign, New York has struggled to find consistency at the bottom of the order and among its mid-rotation starters. “We got beat up pretty good,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone admitted. “That’s a really good team over there, and when they’re clicking like this, it’s tough for anyone to stop them.”

For the Dodgers, the win marked their eighth in the last ten games, as they continue to build separation in the NL West. The offensive explosion was a team effort — Max Muncy added a three-run blast, James Outman broke out of a slump with a two-hit night, and the bullpen remained solid in mop-up duty. But it was Ohtani — whether with his bat or his brief slumber — who once again stole the spotlight.

Ohtani didn’t comment directly on the dugout nap after the game, but when asked about his energy levels, he simply smiled and said through his interpreter, “I feel good. It’s a long season. Sometimes the body wants to rest.”

There’s a humility in that response — the same humility that’s made Ohtani universally admired among players, fans, and executives. He’s not above being tired. He’s not above being human. And in a sport where routines are everything, where athletes must always be on, it was both jarring and strangely comforting to see the game’s biggest star allowing himself a moment of rest, even if it came standing up with cameras rolling.

Baseball has always had a way of blending intensity and stillness. The game unfolds slowly but with hidden rhythms. Ohtani’s sleepy moment was the latest in a long line of strange but memorable ballpark moments — the kind that can’t be scripted but somehow feel inevitable over the grind of 162 games.

It won’t be the last time something unusual happens in a dugout, but it might be one of the most endearing. After all, if Shohei Ohtani — baseball’s most superhuman figure — can occasionally catch a nap midgame, maybe there’s hope for the rest of us.

For now, the Dodgers will move on, likely headed for another playoff run. Ohtani will keep smashing home runs and drawing jaw-dropping crowds. And somewhere in the archives, nestled among highlights of towering homers and blistering strikeouts, will live a short clip of him, eyes closed, standing peacefully amid chaos — as if the game itself had temporarily paused just for him.

Only Shohei.