Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Monday weighed in on comparisons of San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama to Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani. He agreed that both athletes possess a rare ability to capture the attention of fans across the sports world.
“I caught a little bit of it. Certainly a talented young player. I get the comps as far as, you know, transformational type player,” Roberts said.
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“Yeah, I mean he moves the needle, you know, when he’s performing, when he’s playing, people want to see it. It’s certainly unique and very talented.”
Reporters also asked whether the Dodgers had discussed a workload management plan for Shohei Ohtani. Roberts said the team will continue to “move forward” cautiously with the two-way star while monitoring his condition.
Ohtani recently dealt with inflammation in his left knee and returned to the lineup on Saturday. Roberts said that “there will be no base stealing” for him for the time being. The Dodgers want to minimize the risk of further injury until his knee is fully healed.
Dave Roberts gets candid about prioritizing family over baseball
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was not present for Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago White Sox as he attended his youngest daughter, Elle’s, graduation ceremony in California. In a heartfelt discussion, Roberts commented on how sports have evolved, prioritizing mental health and family over obligations.
“I think that’s one of the good things about the way the world has evolved, to where you do some things for mental health or your family, and it’s not frowned upon that you care less about your job,” Roberts said.
“That should be applicable to everyone. It’s good to feel like I can go, and I don’t feel like I’m being judged because I’m going to celebrate my daughter.”
He joked about how, despite shaving for the occasion, he felt “a day older today” having attended four graduation ceremonies, including high school and school events for his two daughters. Robert believes players and staff should feel comfortable putting family first when important moments arise. “It’s healthy,” he said.
Edited by Joseph Schiefelbein