Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has the respect of pretty much every MLB player, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few that have a bone to pick with him.
Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino attended World Series Media Day on Thursday on behalf of MLB. Pasquantino also happens to be the recipient of the two hardest pitches Ohtani has thrown in his career, the first coming in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and the second in a June game between the Dodgers and Royals.
Naturally, Pasquantino wanted to know what Ohtani has against him personally.
“Why do you throw so hard to me? Why do you hate me?” Pasquantino asked.
The two fastest pitches Shohei Ohtani has ever thrown were both to Vinnie Pasquantino … two years apart.
— MLB (@MLB) October 23, 2025
Naturally, Vinnie had to find out why. pic.twitter.com/EUyTvtw8OW
A laughing Ohtani artfully avoided the question.
“You’re just a really good hitter. I have to,” Ohtani replied through his translator.
Pasquantino has faced Ohtani four times in his career, going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. Ohtani’s strategy against him is evidently working, though one can hardly blame Pasquantino for feeling a bit singled out.
Ohtani will be slated to make his first career start on the mound at some point in the World Series, though that likely will not come until Game 4. Perhaps the adrenaline of the moment will have him throwing heat to someone other than Pasquantino.
