Mike Tyson stunned as Ohtani takes home 2 ESPY awards
Shohei Ohtani won two ESPYs on Wednesday, including Best Single-Game Performance, but the viral moment belonged to Mike Tyson. Presenting the award with Jake Paul and DJ Khaled, Tyson asked if Ohtani was a guy after announcing the Dodgers star, who was not there to accept.
Key Takeaways
- Ohtani took home Best Single-Game Performance and Best MLB Player at the 2026 ESPYs.
- The single-game award honored his three-homer, 10-strikeout gem in Game 4 of the 2025 NLCS.
- Mike Tyson presented the trophy and asked Jake Paul, "Shohei's a guy?"
- Ohtani was absent; Paul shared the Dodgers star's thanks to ESPN.
What ESPYs did Shohei Ohtani win?
According to MLB.com, Ohtani earned Best Single-Game Performance and Best MLB Player on Wednesday night. The Dodgers two-way star also won his fourth MVP Award in 2025, underscoring a season that kept delivering hardware.
The single-game ESPY recognized his unforgettable Game 4 of the 2025 National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Serving as Los Angeles' starting pitcher, he tossed six scoreless innings and struck out 10. At the plate, he crushed three home runs and was named NLCS MVP as the Dodgers marched toward a second straight World Series.
That night made history: Ohtani was the first pitcher to hit a leadoff home run in the postseason and the first pitcher to hit multiple home runs in a postseason game. It was also just the 13th three-homer performance in postseason history.
Why did Mike Tyson go viral at the ESPYs?
Boxing legend Mike Tyson joined Jake Paul and DJ Khaled to announce Best Single-Game Performance. After correctly saying Ohtani's name, Tyson turned to Paul with a stunned question that lit up social media.
"And the ESPY award goes to — check this out — Shohei Ohtani," Tyson said, per Fox News OutKick. He then asked, "Shohei's a guy?" Paul replied, "Yeah, he's a guy. He's a guy," after noting Ohtani could not attend and sent his gratitude to everyone at ESPN.
USA Today confirmed Ohtani was not in attendance when the trio presented the award. The clip of Mike Tyson's reaction quickly became one of the night's most shared celebrity moments, even among fans who already knew the baseball story.
Why does Ohtani's ESPY night still matter?
Nine months after the NLCS clincher, the ESPYs put Ohtani's two-way dominance back in the mainstream spotlight. For a Celebrity Breaking News audience, the crossover was clear: a historic baseball feat met a Hollywood-stage surprise from Mike Tyson.
It was also a strong night for baseball beyond Ohtani. Former big league pitcher Jim Abbott won the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance and spoke about building a successful career after being born without a right hand.
Between two ESPYs for Ohtani and a viral presenter moment, Wednesday's show gave casual fans a fresh reminder of why his Game 4 still ranks among the sport's most discussed performances.