“Your throwing style is beautiful and cool,” Shohei Ohtani said, mimicking Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s windup. While Yamamoto proceeded with a polite bow for the compliment, Ohtani was trying his best to not lose the Try Not to Laugh face-off. Ever since the two got to be teammates in the professional league, fans have been watching more than just home runs and strikeouts. It’s just been a whirlwind of bromance and the fans just can’t seem to get enough of it. And well, here is another such aww-worthy moment.

The chatter began, not on the field, but on social media. Shohei Ohtani, on his Instagram Story, casually displayed handmade gifts, which appeared to be handcrafted ceramic bowls of different sizes from teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani wrote in the story’s caption: “A masterpiece from Professor Yoshinobu Yamamoto.” One of the gifts featured Ohtani’s name and iconic number 17, and another had his dog Decoy’s name in Japanese. Further, the 30-year-old also shared a video of Decoy enjoying his meal in one of the ceramic bowls.

This “masterpiece” exchange isn’t just a random act of kindness, it’s a glimpse into a pre-existing bond. Shohei Ohtani and Yamamoto have been friends since they played in Japan. Remember that dinner in Los Angeles with the famous chef? Yup, they appeared for that together. Or when Ohtani was beaming with pride for his teammate?

Clubhouse chemistry and curveballs: The Dodgers’ early season

This culture of camaraderie and appreciation is not a hallmark of just the Dodgers. Players frequently exchange gifts to celebrate milestones, welcome new teammates, or just express gratitude throughout MLB. For teammate Brett Baty, Juan Soto gifted a $92,000 Chevy Tahoe for his jersey number. David Ortiz famously motivated Mookie Betts with jewelry. Jeff McNeil received a Ford Bronco as a gift from Francisco Lindor for winning a batting title. These gestures, whether large or small, emphasize the human touch embedded in the competitive world of professional baseball.

Yet, even amidst the heartwarming gift exchanges and early-season wins, a shadow of concern looms over the Dodgers. While their Tokyo series did go well as a whole, the concern is still looming large as top players such as Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Brusdar Graterol are dealing with injuries. This could pose a significant threat to the team’s performance.