Blue Jays' Springer queries Ohtani's extended warm-up
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani received additional warm-up time before taking the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 8, 2026, at Rogers Centre after earlier reaching base. Toronto outfielder George Springer spoke with the home-plate umpire during Ohtani's warm-ups. The exchange recalled a similar incident during Game 7 of the 2025 World Series between the same teams.
Inning breaks between local games last two minutes and 15 seconds, with 30 extra seconds for nationally televised contests. Umpires have granted Ohtani leeway since his 2018 major-league debut from Japan, particularly when he runs the bases before pitching. Blue Jays manager John Schneider raised the issue with an umpire in last November's World Series finale.
Ohtani posted an .896 OPS and 0.00 ERA early in the 2026 season. Last year, he hit 55 home runs and pitched to a 2.87 ERA while earning multiple Silver Slugger awards and entering Cy Young Award discussions.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed the moment after the game. "Just talking about the World Series, I think they were a little frustrated about how long Shohei takes in between innings. But if he’s on the bases, there’s got to be some grace, which the umpires are trying to give him," Roberts said. "Yeah, if you’re on the other side, you’re trying to rush him as much as possible and treat him like any other pitcher. But the truth is that he’s different. But I understand their gripe."
