Padres Announcer Takes Shots at Dodgers All-Star

The Dodgers-Padres rivalry has long been one of baseball’s most entertaining, fueled by star power, postseason drama, and proximity-driven intensity. But this past weekend, the rivalry took a sharper turn—not on the field, but in the broadcast booth.

During the third inning of Friday night’s game at Petco Park, Padres television announcer Mark Grant, known for his passionate (and sometimes polarizing) commentary, unleashed a surprising on-air critique of Dodgers All-Star Shohei Ohtani, who had just stepped to the plate amid a chorus of both cheers and boos from the San Diego crowd.

“This guy might be the most gifted hitter in the league,” Grant began, before quickly shifting tone. “But let’s not forget—he’s also got a pretty good habit of disappearing in the big games. Great regular-season guy. But when it really counts? Still waiting.”

The comment drew immediate reactions across social media, with Dodgers fans flooding platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to voice their disapproval. Padres fans, on the other hand, largely applauded the jab, seeing it as a bold moment of honesty from their longtime broadcaster.

The remarks appeared to be triggered by Ohtani’s performance in high-leverage situations and playoff appearances—or, more specifically, the lack of a postseason résumé in his career thus far. Though Ohtani has earned multiple MVP awards and consistently ranks among MLB leaders in homers, RBIs, and OPS, he has yet to make a major playoff impact. Now in his first season with the Dodgers, he’s expected to help carry L.A. deep into October.

Grant’s comments didn’t stop there.

“I respect what he can do—anyone with eyes can see he’s a freak athlete,” he continued. “But when the lights are brightest, I’m not sure he wants the moment as badly as some of the other guys we’ve seen in this league. Maybe that changes with the Dodgers. We’ll see.”

While some may chalk the remarks up to hometown partisanship or rivalry hype, others interpreted the comments as unnecessarily personal, especially given Ohtani’s current dominance. Entering Friday’s game, the slugger was hitting .324 with 25 home runs and a 1.021 OPS—numbers that have made him the frontrunner in National League MVP discussions, despite not pitching this season due to elbow recovery.

In the very inning following Grant’s criticism, Ohtani silenced the boos with a 425-foot home run to center field, drawing sarcastic cheers and stunned silence from sections of Petco Park. As he rounded the bases, cameras caught him briefly glancing toward the Padres dugout—but whether it was in direct response to the broadcast is unclear.

In the postgame press conference, Ohtani was asked about the comments made during the broadcast. Through his interpreter, he gave a typically composed answer.

“I don’t pay much attention to what people say on TV,” he said. “My job is to prepare and compete. I respect everyone in this game—even the people who may not respect me.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, however, wasn’t as diplomatic.

“That’s nonsense,” Roberts told reporters bluntly. “Shohei’s one of the most committed, hardworking guys I’ve ever managed. He shows up every night and gives you everything. I don’t think it’s right to question a guy’s heart on air like that. Especially when he’s doing things that no one else in baseball can.”

This isn’t the first time Grant has stirred controversy. A former pitcher turned analyst, he’s become one of the more colorful voices in regional sports broadcasting—known for his humor, loyalty to the Padres, and willingness to needle opposing players. But critics have pointed out that his commentary often crosses into the subjective and sometimes inflammatory.

“Mark’s passionate, no doubt,” said one rival NL West broadcaster who asked to remain anonymous. “But sometimes passion sounds a lot like bias. It’s one thing to critique a player’s swing or approach—it’s another to question their desire or character on-air without evidence.”

Around the league, several former players and media figures weighed in, many defending Ohtani.

Pedro Martinez, speaking on MLB Network, called the critique “out of line.”

“You can’t be throwing that kind of shade on a guy like Shohei, who’s done nothing but elevate this game globally,” Martinez said. “He hasn’t had many postseason opportunities yet. That’s not his fault. That’s on the teams he’s been with. I guarantee you—when the stage is there, he’ll show up.”

Jessica Mendoza of ESPN echoed that sentiment, noting that Ohtani’s biggest showcase to date—the 2023 World Baseball Classic—ended with him striking out Mike Trout to win the title for Japan.

“If that’s not performing under pressure, I don’t know what is,” Mendoza said.

The timing of Grant’s comments has also raised eyebrows. The Padres, despite a recent surge, remain behind the Dodgers in the NL West standings. Los Angeles continues to lead the division and owns one of the best records in baseball, powered by the elite trio of Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman. The Padres, meanwhile, are clawing to remain in wild-card contention and have been battling inconsistency in both their rotation and bullpen.

For Padres fans, however, the shot at Ohtani was embraced as a symbolic swing against the behemoth up north.

“Mark Grant says what we’re all thinking,” tweeted one fan. “Sick of the Dodgers getting worshipped. It’s time someone called them out.”

Others in the media took a more critical stance.

“Grant’s job is to be an analyst, not an agitator,” wrote Ken Rosenthal in a column for The Athletic. “There’s plenty of room to evaluate Ohtani’s playoff impact—or lack thereof—but questioning his motivation borders on personal. That’s not analysis. That’s provocation.”

Meanwhile, inside the Dodgers clubhouse, the response has been unified: support Ohtani, ignore the noise.

“People are going to talk,” said Betts. “But we’ve got the guy in here every day. We know how he works. You don’t have to defend greatness—it speaks for itself.”

Indeed, Ohtani’s greatness is difficult to ignore. Since joining the Dodgers, he’s continued to produce at a historic pace, with some metrics even outpacing his 2021 and 2023 MVP seasons. And though he’s yet to pitch in 2025, his hitting alone has made him one of the most valuable players in baseball.

Still, the comments from Grant have reignited discussions around how media figures wield influence—and where the line exists between critique and character judgment.

For now, the incident serves as yet another spark in what is shaping up to be an increasingly emotional rivalry. The Dodgers and Padres will meet again in mid-July at Dodger Stadium—an event that now carries added tension.

When asked if he looked forward to seeing San Diego again, Ohtani smiled slightly.

“Every game matters,” he said. “But of course, some are more fun than others.”