World Series 2025: Here’s why the umpires gave Shohei Ohtani extra time to warm up before Bo Bichette’s HR
Despite the extra warm-up time, Shohei Ohtani did not enjoy a good start in Game 7 of the World Series.
(Robert Gauthier via Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani pitching in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series was bound to be appointment-viewing, but it got off to a rather odd start. As Fox Sports returned from commercial after the top of the first inning — in which Ohtani hit a single but was stranded at third base — the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star had just emerged from the dugout. That created an unusual situation.
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Usually, there is a nearly three-minute timer between innings, and failing to pitch in time would mean a pace-of-play violation, but the umpires on the field opted to reset the clock so Ohtani could go through his full warm-up.
And then they let him do it again in the third inning, after Ohtani ended the top of the frame with a flyout.
At first glance, the reset clocks appeared to be special treatment for a player who is, well, special. Blue Jays manager John Schneider wasn’t happy with it, nor were many fans partial to the Blue Jays.
However, there appears to be a good reason for that. Here are the pace-of-play rules, from MLB’s website:
For between-innings breaks, the timer begins when the final out of the inning is recorded, with several exceptions. If the pitcher is on base, on deck or at bat when the inning ends, the timer begins when the pitcher leaves the dugout for the mound.
And here’s a rule change from 2023:
Umpires may provide extra time if warranted by special circumstances. (So if, as an example, a catcher were to be thrown out on the bases to end the previous half-inning and needed additional time to put on his catching gear, the umpire could allow it.)
Basically, as long as Ohtani was batting or running the bases, the umps had the power to give him the time he needed to get ready. The question then becomes whether a pitcher should need multiple minutes to get ready in the dugout.
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Wherever you land on it, the warm-ups ended up not working out for Ohtani. He had to escape from a pair of jams in the first and second innings. Then he was sent back out for a third inning that did not go his way. He allowed a third straight leadoff hitter to reach base on a single from George Springer, then intentionally walked Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after a sacrifice bunt opened up first base.
Cue Bo Bichette.
Ohtani exited the game with a line of 2 1/3 innings, 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts on 51 pitches. It was a messy outing for a player making the first real start on short (or even normal) rest of his career.
