Shohei Ohtani bobblehead giveaway likely to create excitement

Dodgers to Distribute Ohtani Bobbleheads This Friday

This Friday, the Dodgers will be giving away Shohei Ohtani-themed bobbleheads, marking the first time the popular event is happening in 2026.

Fans heading to Chavez Canyon for these collectibles should brace themselves for some serious chaos.

Historically, Ohtani memorabilia giveaways have led to quite a frenzy at Dodger Stadium, with traffic jams and lengthy lines proving to be common occurrences on those days.

During a previous event in 2024, when the team distributed bobbleheads featuring Ohtani and his dog, dedicated fans arrived roughly seven hours before the game just to secure a piece of the action.

This latest bobblehead celebrates Ohtani’s extraordinary performance during Game 4 of the 2025 NLCS against the Brewers, held in Los Angeles.

On that day, he hit three home runs and the new collectible shows him mid-swing at a platform labeled “3 HR.”

The Dodgers are branding this giveaway as the “Shohei Ohtani ‘Greatest Game’ Bobblehead Part 1,” with plans for a Part 2 later on that highlights the six scoreless innings he pitched in a series victory over Milwaukee in July.

In an effort to manage the anticipated chaos, the team is ensuring that the first 54,000 fans who enter Dodger Stadium will receive the bobblehead.

However, based on the recent experience with Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s giveaway last month, it’s likely that this strategy won’t significantly alter the expected crowd dynamics.

On March 31, the Dodgers handed out Yamamoto-themed Yoshi ornaments, resulting in an overwhelming line at the entrance. Many fans told local reporters that they arrived hours before the event to avoid the rush.