(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Staff Writer
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- Shohei Ohtani quietly made a “very, very big contribution” to help Dodgers relief pitcher Gus Varland’s mother receive cancer treatment, manager Dave Roberts said.
- The two-time World Series champion performs extensive charitable work off the field, but much of it remains quiet and undisclosed to the public.
When the Dodgers are on the field, Shohei Ohtani dominates the headlines with his baserunning, slugging and pitching. But off the field, his actions also resonate.
In a recent interview with Japanese media, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told a story of when the two-time World Series champion helped relief pitcher Gus Varland’s mother get cancer treatment by making a “very, very big contribution.”
“Shohei does a lot of great things, but a lot of what he does is on the down low, quiet, so people don’t talk about it,” Roberts said.
Varland made seven relief appearances with the Dodgers during the 2024 season — including pitching in the season-opening series in South Korea against the San Diego Padres — and posted a 3.00 earned-run average in six innings before he was designated for assignment in July of that year.
Roberts said he ran into Varland’s mother during this year’s World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays because his brother, Louis, pitched for them. Roberts said the mother told him she was cancer free.
After spending his first six major league seasons with the Angels, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers. In November he won his fourth MVP award in five seasons, becoming the only player besides Barry Bonds to win it more than three times.
Ohtani helped the Dodgers win their second consecutive World Series title after hitting 55 homers with a batting average of .282 and an ERA of 2.87.
Anthony Solorzano is a reporting fellow at the Los Angeles Times. Born and raised in Pomona, he now lives in Riverside. He recently released a zine called “Worst Zine Ever!” where he analyzed his hometown through the lens of “The Simpsons.” He earned a master’s degree in creative writing from Mount Saint Mary’s University and a bachelor’s degree in theater from Cal Poly Pomona. Solorzano enjoys watching movies and going on walks with his dog and his wife.
