Shohei Ohtani, the talented designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, took the mound on Saturday for his longest pitching appearance of the season. This game took place at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, where the Dodgers faced off against the Kansas City Royals. Although the Dodgers lost the game 9-5, Ohtani’s performance on the mound was a bright spot.
Ohtani pitched for two innings, allowing only one hit. This outing was significant as he had previously only pitched for one inning in earlier games this season. He is gradually increasing his pitching workload after recovering from elbow surgery in 2023. Ohtani’s fastball reached an impressive speed of 101.7 mph, marking the fastest pitch of his Major League Baseball career.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism about Ohtani’s performance, noting how well he threw the ball. He was surprised to see Ohtani hit such high speeds and hoped that Ohtani would feel good after the game. Ohtani himself was pleased with his ability to throw strikes, finishing with 27 pitches, 20 of which were strikes. He faced seven batters and threw first-pitch strikes to all of them.
Despite his success on the mound, Ohtani struggled at the plate, striking out three times as the leadoff hitter. This season, he has already hit 29 home runs, showcasing his dual-threat capabilities as both a pitcher and a hitter.
Ohtani’s return to pitching is a significant milestone after missing last season due to recovery from Tommy John surgery. In his previous five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, he made 86 starts and had a 3.01 ERA. His performance against the Royals is a positive sign as he continues to work his way back to full strength.
Ohtani’s ability to contribute on both sides of the game makes him a unique player in baseball, and fans will be eager to see how he continues to progress this season.