Social media erupted with mockery of Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Kyle Schwarber during the National League MVP finalist press conference.
The event didn’t unfold quite as Major League Baseball had hoped. After introducing Ohtani, Soto, and Schwarber as the final contenders for the coveted MVP award, netizens flooded social media with hilarious commentary and visual memes targeting the trio.
Since 2020, MLB has adopted a virtual format for the nominees’ press conference. This year, the screen was dominated by the three finalists – and fans wasted no time roasting their appearances.
Schwarber opted for a rugged, outdoorsy look. Ohtani kept it casual, while Soto dressed like he was headed to a nightclub. The visual contrast was striking, and the video quickly went viral.
The Internet barbecue: Ohtani, Soto, and Schwarber get grilled
The X account @CespedesBBQ fired the first shot, posting a split-screen image of the three players with the caption: “Inside of you there are three wolves.”
From there, the internet did what it does best:
- “The lumberjack, the samurai, and the matador.”
- “College admissions brochure.”
- “Why does Schwarber look like my uncle?”
- “Shohei looks like he’s going to Starbucks for a weird drink.”
- “Schwarber at his side job at Home Depot. Shohei at a modeling studio. Soto at a nightclub.”
- “I see a lumberjack, a K-pop star, and a Mexican gangster.”
- “The spectrum of LinkedIn profile pictures.”
These were just a few of the viral comments roasting the National League’s top players of 2025.
Ohtani silences the trolls – with another MVP
Amid the online frenzy, Shohei Ohtani took home the award. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way phenom dominated the voting, earning his third consecutive MVP and second in the National League – all by unanimous decision.
With this win, Ohtani moves one step closer to Barry Bonds, the only player with more MVPs (seven) and the only other to win three in a row.
Unfazed by the online chatter, Ohtani remained composed. After receiving the award, he emphasized that the true highlight of the season was the Dodgers’ World Series victory.
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