Shohei Ohtani won two ESPY Awards at the 2026 ceremony in New York, including Best Single-Game Performance for his historic Game 4 of the 2025 National League Championship Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers star, who was unable to attend the event, was represented by Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, who presented the award.
During the presentation, Tyson was caught on a hot mic asking Paul, 'Shohei’s a guy?' Paul responded, 'Yeah, he’s a guy,' as the trio left the stage. The moment quickly went viral on social media, with fans reacting to Tyson’s apparent unfamiliarity with the MLB superstar.
Ohtani, a four-time MVP and two-time World Series champion, has been a global phenomenon since joining MLB. His performance in the 2025 NLCS, where he hit three home runs and pitched six scoreless innings, solidified his legacy. However, the incident highlighted that not all celebrities are familiar with the baseball icon.
The 32-year-old Ohtani missed the 2026 All-Star Game due to a knee injury and did not make his scheduled start before the Midsummer Classic. Meanwhile, Tyson’s representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.