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

LOS ANGELES — One of the best parts about sports is that it blends emotions with the rigors of competition. The MLB postseason has a way of concentrating the entire emotional experience into its most intense form.

For the first time in his career, Shohei Ohtani is getting to feel the playoff atmosphere and the big moments that come with it. And following his no-doubt homer in Game 1 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres, Ohtani put those emotions on full display. Tossing his bat in excitement and watching in admiration before letting out a scream as he began his trot, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ superstar let the world know he had arrived in the playoffs.

Ohtani’s emotional investment was also on display in Wednesday’s series-tying 8-0 victory, when the Japanese superstar, in a moment widely circulated on social media, appeared to take umbrage with an umpire’s interference with a fair ball.

“I totally forgot about it,” Ohtani told reporters via an interpreter when asked about the moment on Thursday. The response drew laughter.

The postseason — which for the Dodgers has extended to a Game 5 on Friday at Dodger Stadium — isn’t the first time this year that Ohtani has let his emotions show in big moments. In fact, throughout this season, he has been increasingly demonstrative. That perhaps shouldn’t be surprising, given that his first year with the Dodgers has granted him more big moments than years prior and in front of a much larger audience.

“Playing a regular-season game and playing a playoff game is different,” Ohtani said via an interpreter. “And I think a lot of players end up playing with [and] showing their emotions. So I feel like I’m part of that.”

Ohtani hasn’t always been one to emote on or around the diamond. During his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, even as he was transforming into the world’s best player, he stayed reserved in his reactions and kept his emotions close to the vest.

The beginning of this shift for Ohtani happened during last year’s World Baseball Classic. In what felt like a postseason environment, Ohtani — pitching as the closer for Team Japan against Team USA — displayed a side of himself few baseball fans had previously seen. When he struck out his then-teammate Mike Trout to seal his team’s victory, we saw the ultimate joy and passion from a competitor as he tossed his glove before embracing his countrymen. In that moment, Ohtani showed he wasn’t some baseball cyborg.

This year, the two-time MVP put on a show during his first season in Dodger blue, slashing .310/.390/.646 with a league-leading 54 homers and a career-high 197 hits on his way to becoming the first member of the 50-50 club. Throughout this historic season, there were bat flips, celebrations and even the occasional “Let’s f***ing go!” — yes, in English — while pumping up his teammates.

This isn’t the same Ohtani we saw the past six years. It’s a new, more comfortable and confident version.

“I’m not surprised by it,” Ohtani said of his more exuberant displays. “I do think it’s part of who I am as well. Obviously, being respectful and mindful of the opponent. I think it’s an important part of the game.”

It probably helps that for the first time in his career, Ohtani is playing for a winning ball club. After six seasons with nothing on the line playoff-wise, his greatness is no longer just about individual accomplishment; it’s also about team success as L.A. tries to win the World Series. One more victory will put the Dodgers in the NLCS, where the Mets await.

“I think he does realize he’s the best player on the planet,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I do think that he’s become over the course of the season, I think, who he intrinsically is. … I think winning helps.

“He’s very isolated, very quiet and stays to himself, private. But I do think that naturally he is a goofy person. He’s fun-loving. He’s a crazy-good competitor.”

Whether it was going 6-for-6 with three homers and 10 RBI in the game he reached 50-50, hitting a walk-off grand slam to join the 40-40 club or blasting a homer in his postseason debut, Ohtani has shown on numerous occasions that he lives for the big moment. And he’s one of a handful of players who is seemingly able 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 that I really focus on, instead of overcomplicating things and thinking besides that.”

Ohtani showing who he is and letting fans feed off his energy helps the sport’s biggest superstar continue his rise as 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, enjoying themselves in moments — I think we’ve seen more of that over the course of the season — I think that’s a good thing for him because it’s honest,” Roberts said.

“This guy is not just a robot. He’s a real person who has emotions. So I think this is good for everybody.”