Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider had a long conversation with home plate umpire Jordan Baker between the first and second innings of Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday.
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Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ designated hitter and starting pitcher, finished the top of the first inning at third base, then had to move to the mound for the end of the first inning.
Although Major League Baseball limits the amount of time players have between innings before starting a new inning, depending on the leaguearbitrators “may grant additional time if special circumstances warrant it.”
#Dodgers Shohei Ohtani took a long time to get to the mound after his at-bat to end the third inning. The clock ran out but the referee let him warm up — referee’s discretion on resetting the clock. John Schneider questions him from the Blue Jays dugout. He threw his hands out to the sides, palms up
– Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) November 2, 2025
Ohtani is baseball’s only full-time two-way player. The Dodgers’ leadoff hitter and starting pitcher in Game 7 needed more time to prepare to pitch after fulfilling his DH duties, single to start the game before getting stranded at third base.
According to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, Ohtani didn’t get to the mound until there were 45 seconds left on the clock.
Ohtani, who was stranded at third base, didn’t reach the mound until about 45 seconds remained on the clock. The referees gave him more time to complete the warm-up.
– Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) November 2, 2025
According to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group, Ohtani took a long time to return to the mound after lining out sharply to outfielder Nathan Lukes to end the top of the third inning.
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This prompted Schneider to raise his hands to his sides, palms up, as if to suggest he didn’t understand why Ohtani had been given an extension again.
But in each case, it appears the referees recognized that Ohtani needed more time to warm up and were entitled under the rules to grant it.
The move certainly didn’t help Ohtani, who was ejected from the game in the bottom of the third inning with a 3-0 deficit.
Ohtani allowed a leadoff single to George Springer, then retired Lukes on a sacrifice bunt. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was intentionally walked with first base open. This set the stage for Bo Bichette.
Bichette hit Ohtani’s first pitch, a slider to the middle of the plate, 442 feet to center field for a game-changing home run. Justin Wrobleski relieved Ohtani, who remained in the game as the Dodgers’ designated hitter.
A few in the canadian the media were quick to point out that Ohtani had already a special dispensation in MLB rules that no one else in baseball has.
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