Shohei Ohtani becomes the only player in MLB postseason history to be intentionally walked four times in a single game

Shohei Ohtani has reached a level where stats can no longer define him. In Game 3 of the World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays did not just pitch around him; they gave up trying. Four intentional walks told the story.

Ohtani showed that dominance is not always about swinging the bat, sometimes it is about forcing silence from the opposing dugout.

Shohei Ohtani becomes first player with three multi-home run games in a single postseason

Ohtani didn't take long to show what he's got. Leading off the bottom of the first inning, he crushed a ground-rule double to right field off Scherzer, proving his speed and power. In the third inning, he sent a solo home run to right, his seventh of the postseason, increasing the Dodgers' lead to 2-0.

That shot matched Corey Seager's Dodgers record of eight homers in a single postseason, established in 2020.The Blue Jays fought back to even the score at 3-3 by the fifth inning, but Ohtani came through with an RBI double against reliever Mason Fluharty during a key rally.

Then, in the seventh inning, with one out and the game tied at 4-4, Ohtani smashed another solo homer off Seranthony Domínguez to right field, leveling the score at 5-5.

This was his sixth homer in the Dodgers' last four games and made him the first player to have three multi-home run games in a single postseason. He now sits just behind Randy Arozarena's 10 homers for the all-time postseason single-series record.These four extra-base hits, two doubles and two homers, equaled a record that has stood for 119 years, originally set by Frank Isbell, who hit four doubles for the Chicago White Sox in Game 5 of the 1906 World Series against the Cubs.Ohtani also made history as the first player to have multiple games with at least 12 total bases in a single postseason, a milestone that has only been achieved in a career by Babe Ruth.

Shohei Ohtani makes history as the only player ever intentionally walked four times in a postseason game

After Ohtani's second homer tied the game at 5-5 during the seventh, Blue Jays manager John Schneider had enough. In all of Ohtani's next plate appearances in the ninth, 11th, 13th, and 15th innings, Toronto decided to intentionally walk him, even with the bases empty and the game tied.

This was the first time in MLB postseason history that a player received four intentional walks in one game, surpassing any previous record.

Earlier in the series, Schneider characterized Ohtani as "a totally different type of animal" At a press conference on October 24, the focus was on the importance of taking bold actions against such threats. This choice reflected a similar strategy used in the 11th inning, where Toronto chose to walk Ohtani, the possible winning run with two outs, leading to an extended game.Schneider had already intentionally walked Ohtani multiple times across the series, totaling five by game's end. In a game that seemed to go on forever, the Blue Jays chose to intentionally walk Ohtani each of his next four times at bat. This sets a World Series record! No player has ever been put in such a position during the Fall Classic.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani adds another record-setting night

Shohei Ohtani's standout moment in Game 3 enhances a postseason that's already packed with records.

Coming into the World Series, he had tied the record for multi-homer games, and this performance raised his October OPS past 1.400. The intentional walks, which can be frustrating for hitters, belong to a unique category: Barry Bonds holds the single-season record with 68 in 2004, but no one had experienced four in a playoff game until now.As the Dodgers look to clinch another title, Ohtani's performance is a testament to his rare abilities, a two-way sensation whose 2024 MVP bid (50-50 club) feels almost simple in comparison.Schneider put it perfectly in his chat with Yahoo Sports after the game, "You walk him because sometimes, you just can't beat him." With Game 4 looming, the Blue Jays must now find a way to pitch to the untouchable.Shohei Ohtani's showing in Game 3 appears to be a pivotal moment in redefining greatness in contemporary baseball. His skill in compelling the Toronto Blue Jays to give him four intentional walks demonstrates not just his power but also his psychological influence.It's a rare sight to see a player so intimidating that tactics shift to capitulation. What Ohtani accomplished is more than just numbers or achievements; it's a moment that alters how opponents strategize, how fans remember, and how legends are created.Also Read: Chicago Cubs rookie Matt Shaw missed the game against Cincinnati Reds to attend memorial for Charlie Kirk in Arizona