The Washington Nationals’ recent win against the Los Angeles Dodgers highlighted not just their impressive performance but also a subtle issue with how MLB handles coverage. After Shohei Ohtani hit a game-tying home run, MLB posted a highly enthusiastic update with all caps: “SHOHEI OHTANI GAME-TYING HOMER.” However, when James Wood of the Nationals hit a pivotal homer to give his team a 5-2 lead, MLB’s post was much more subdued, simply stating, “James Wood has some ridiculous opposite-field power.”
The Nationals were understandably upset by this, feeling their player’s significant contribution wasn’t given the same level of recognition. They called out MLB on X (formerly Twitter), asking, “Where did the caps lock go, MLB?” The league did try to amend this by posting a video of Dylan Crews’ game-winning shot, but with a somewhat cheeky, “For you, @Nationals,” and a smug emoticon, which felt like a backhanded attempt to settle the score.
James Wood has some ridiculous opposite-field power 😳 pic.twitter.com/l4krsrsla3
— MLB (@MLB) April 8, 2025
While the Nationals were clearly bothered by the disparity in attention, Shohei Ohtani continued to impress with another standout performance, including a homer that briefly tied the game. His stats, even early in the 2025 season, are stellar, with a .311 average, .436 OBP, and 1.080 OPS. Though the Nationals won, Ohtani’s contributions still left a significant mark on the game.
The situation raises the question: was MLB’s treatment of the Nationals unfair, or is Ohtani’s global stardom deserving of more sensational coverage? The league might have been a bit more balanced in its coverage, but given Ohtani’s status, it’s understandable why they might highlight his feats more prominently. It’s a reminder that in sports, sometimes the narratives can get as competitive as the games themselves!