Shohei Ohtani is showing a different side of himself in his first year in Dodger blue

LOS ANGELES – The best thing about sports is that it combines emotion with the rigors of competition. The MLB postseason offers an opportunity to concentrate the entire emotional experience at its most intense.

For the first time in his career, Shohei Ohtani is feeling the playoff atmosphere and the big moments that come with it. And after his hands-down home run in Game 1 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres, Ohtani showed those emotions on full display. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar let the world know he had made it to the playoffs by throwing his bat in excitement and watching in admiration before letting out a scream as he began his trot.

Ohtani's emotional involvement was also on display in Wednesday's series-tying 8-0 win, when the Japanese superstar appeared annoyed at a referee's interference with a fair ball in a moment that was widely shared on social media.

“I completely forgot about it,” Ohtani told reporters through an interpreter when asked about the moment on Thursday. The answer sparked laughter.

The postseason — which for the Dodgers has expanded to Game 5 on Friday at Dodger Stadium — isn't the first time this year that Ohtani has expressed his feelings in big moments. In fact, he showed more and more demonstrative spirit as the season progressed. Perhaps that shouldn't be surprising, considering his first year with the Dodgers gave him more big moments than in previous years and in front of a much larger audience.

“Playing a regular season game and playing a playoff game are different,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “And I think a lot of players end up playing with (and showing) their emotions. That’s why I feel like I’m a part of it.”

Ohtani wasn't always one to show emotion on or around the diamond. During his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, even as he became the best player in the world, he remained reserved in his reactions and kept his emotions in check.

The start of this change for Ohtani occurred during last year's World Baseball Classic. In what felt like a postseason environment, Ohtani — who pitched for Team Japan against Team USA — showed a side of himself that few baseball fans had seen before. When he beat then-teammate Mike Trout to seal his team's victory, we saw the ultimate joy and passion of a competitor as he threw his glove before embracing his compatriots. In that moment, Ohtani showed he wasn't a baseball cyborg.

This year, the two-time MVP put on a show in his first season in Dodger blue, slashing .310/.390/.646 with a league-leading 54 home runs and a career-high 197 hits en route to becoming a first-team member of the 50-50 Club. During this historic season, there were stick throws, celebrations and even the occasional “Let's go!” – yes, in English – as he kept his teammates on their toes.

This isn't the same Ohtani we've seen for the last six years. It is a new, more comfortable and confident version.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Ohtani said of his more exuberant performances. “I think it’s part of me too. Obviously be respectful and considerate of the opponent. I think it’s an important part of the game.”

It probably helps that Ohtani is playing for a winning ball club for the first time in his career. After six seasons with nothing on the line in the playoffs, his greatness no longer rests solely on individual achievements; It's also about team success as LA tries to win the World Series. Another win puts the Dodgers in the NLCS, where the Mets await.

“I think he realizes he's the best player in the world,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I do believe that he has developed into what he actually is over the course of the season. … I think winning helps.

“He is very isolated, very quiet and keeps to himself, private. But I do think he's a silly person by nature. He is fun-loving. He’s an incredibly good competitor.”

Whether it was going 6-for-6 with three home runs and 10 RBI in the game where he reached 50-50, hitting a walk-off grand slam to join the 40-40 club, or whether he hit a home run in his postseason debut, Ohtani has shown on numerous occasions that he lives for the big moment. And he's one of the few players who seems to rise to the occasion every time.

“I'm really focused on winning the game and whatever I can do to help the team win the game,” he said. “That’s something I really focus on instead of overcomplicating things and thinking beyond that.”

Ohtani shows who he is and lets fans feed into his energy, helping the sport's biggest superstar continue his rise to become one of the most popular athletes in the world. And quite simply, seeing the best player in the world be great in the biggest moments is great for the sport itself.

“When he sees people having fun and enjoying themselves in moments – I think we've seen more of that as the season has progressed – I think that's a good thing for him because it's honest,” Roberts said .

“This guy isn’t just a robot. He is a real person with emotions. I think it’s good for everyone.”