Shohei Ohtani says all he wants is sleep after marathon Game 3 — Here’s why the Dodgers pitcher desperately needed rest

After one of the longest games in World Series history, Shohei Ohtani’s postgame wish was simple: decent sleep. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar delivered a once-in-a-century performance in an 18-inning thriller against the Toronto Blue Jays, reaching base nine times and rewriting the postseason record books.

But after hours of relentless at-bats, walks, and adrenaline, even baseball’s biggest star admitted exhaustion had caught up with him.

Why Shohei Ohtani desperately needed rest before Game 4

By the end of the 18th inning, Shohei Ohtani looked spent. He had been on base more times than most players see in a week, and the pressure of carrying Los Angeles on both offense and, soon, defense was immense. With Game 4 just 17 hours away — where he’s set to make his first World Series start on the mound — recovery became his only focus.

When asked how he would prepare for the quick turnaround, Ohtani didn’t hesitate. “I want to go to sleep as soon as possible so that I can get ready,” he said with a smile.It was a rare glimpse into the human side of a player often described as superhuman. He is certainly capable of rewriting baseball history, yet humble enough to know when it’s time to rest. After all, even legends need sleep before making more history.

Shohei Ohtani had a record-setting night

Game 3 at Dodger Stadium was one for the ages. Shohei Ohtani went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two solo home runs, tying a 119-year-old major league record for four extra-base hits in a World Series game.

He later drew five walks, four of them intentional, and became the first player in 83 years to reach base nine times in any MLB game.The Dodgers finally broke the deadlock when Freddie Freeman launched a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 18th inning, sealing a 6–5 victory nearly seven hours after first pitch. But it was Ohtani’s sheer dominance that defined the night. “What matters the most is we won,” Ohtani said through his interpreter after the game.

“And what I accomplished today is in the context of this game, and what matters the most is we flip the page and play the next game.

”From his opening double off Max Scherzer to his 401-foot homer that tied the score in the seventh, Ohtani punished Toronto’s pitching staff. Blue Jays manager John Schneider, out of options and out of luck, opted to intentionally walk him four times down the stretch.Also Read: Did Dodgers-Blue Jays’ latest showdown clinch the longest game in World Series history tag?