Mike Tyson’s hot‑mic remark at ESPYs shows he didn’t know Shohei Ohtani is male

At the 2026 ESPY Awards in New York, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson joined Jake Paul and DJ Khaled to present the Best Single‑Game Performance award. The award went to Los Angeles Dodgers two‑way star Shohei Ohtani, who was absent because of a knee injury that also kept him out of the All‑Star Game. After announcing Ohtani’s win, a hot‑mic captured Tyson asking, “Shohei’s a guy?” indicating he was unaware that the Japanese baseball star is male. The clip quickly spread on social media, prompting jokes and debate about Tyson’s sports knowledge.

Ohtani’s award recognized his historic Game 4 National League Championship Series performance in 2025, where he pitched six score‑less innings, struck out ten batters and hit three home runs. Despite the confusion on stage, Ohtani’s dominance on the mound and at the plate remains undisputed, and he is expected to return to the Dodgers lineup after fluid is drained from his knee.