Terry Francona’s Bold Move: Why He’s Refusing to Intentional Walk Shohei Ohtani in 2025 Playoffs

So here we are, gearing up for Game 2 of the wild-card faceoff between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers — and if you’re wondering whether the Reds will tiptoe around Shohei Ohtani at the plate, well, don’t hold your breath. Terry Francona, the Reds’ skipper, isn’t buying into the notion of pitching around a slugger, even one with as much firepower as Ohtani. The guy’s got MVP pedigree, sure, but the respect Francona has runs deeper—it’s about the full arsenal the Dodgers deploy right behind him. When asked if he might intentionally walk Ohtani, Francona’s response? A hearty, “You’re kidding, right? What about Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman?” He’s painfully aware that while Ohtani can be lethal, he also racked up a hefty number of strikeouts—third highest in the National League to be exact—so Francona’s strategy doesn’t involve handing free passes. The Reds took their shots at Ohtani in Game 1, and yes, the pitcher turned hitter did swing and miss thrice—but the damage he inflicted with two towering home runs was a reminder that this guy isn’t just any slugger; he’s a postseason force, the kind that elevates the intensity of a series. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts isn’t shy about his admiration either, praising Ohtani’s razor-sharp focus in playoff moments. Francona recognizes this, calling the two-way phenom a “generational player,” but remains steadfast: the Reds won’t roll out the red carpet with intentional walks, no matter how tempting it might seem. It’s a high-stakes chess match, and Francona’s playing for keeps. LEARN MORE

LOS ANGELES — Don’t expect the Cincinnati Reds to pitch around Shohei Ohtani in Game 2 of their wild-card series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Manager Terry Francona has too much respect for the former league MVPs who bat second and third in the Dodgers’ lineup.

Asked before Wednesday’s game if he’d consider intentionally walking Ohtani, Francona scoffed and said, “You’re kidding, right? Have you heard of Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman?”

Francona described Ohtani as “a really dangerous hitter” but also pointed out that the two-way star struck out 187 times during the regular season, third-most in the National League.

“That’s where we have to get to,” Francona said. “You start walking people in that lineup, and you’re asking for trouble.”

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The Reds attacked Ohtani in their 10-5 Game 1 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday — and while the superstar struck out three times, he also made them pay with a pair of home runs.

He opened the bottom of the first inning by turning on a 100-mph inside fastball from Reds fireballer Hunter Greene and rocketing a screaming line drive over the right-field wall. Then in the sixth inning, with chants of M-V-P raining down from the upper deck, Ohtani blasted a 454-foot moon shot high into the right-center-field bleachers.

Ohtani piled up 55 home runs and 102 RBI during another MVP-caliber regular season, but even so, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts raved Tuesday about Ohtani’s ability to raise his level in the postseason.

“His focus gets more keen, and the at-bat quality is better,” Roberts said. “That’s a reason why he signed to be with this ball club, this organization, to play in games like this, to showcase his otherworldly talent. I expect really fun things this postseason out of Shohei.”

Before the wild-card series began, Francona also spoke glowingly of Ohtani, calling him a “generational player.”

“You don’t want to let him get those arms extended,” he said Monday. “You make a mistake, and it goes a long way, a long way.”

But as much respect as Francona has for Ohtani, he won’t give the Dodgers’ slugger the Barry Bonds treatment.

Said Francona on Wednesday: “I think it would be a very poor decision.”