KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Shohei Ohtani showcased his remarkable talent on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers, as the renowned two-way player threw a career-high pitch clocked at 101.7 mph. During his third pitching start for the Dodgers against the Kansas City Royals, Ohtani delivered an impressive performance over two innings, conceding just one hit and one walk. This outing marked his first multi-inning start this season while he transitions back into full-time pitching duties.
The Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts, expressed satisfaction with Ohtani’s performance. “Getting Shohei through two innings throwing the ball the way he did is certainly a positive,” Roberts remarked. “I didn’t know it was 102 (mph). I just saw 100, so, no, I didn’t expect that. Now I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that he feels good coming out of today.”
In this particular game, despite contributing as the leadoff hitter, Ohtani faced challenges at the plate, going 0-for-4 and striking out three times as the Dodgers fell 9-5. The multi-talented star, who didn’t pitch last season due to recovering from Tommy John surgery, had previously been a dominant force on the mound with the Los Angeles Angels, achieving a 38-19 record and a 3.01 ERA over five years.
On Saturday, Ohtani threw first-pitch strikes to each of the seven batters he encountered and concluded with 27 pitches, 20 of which were strikes. “I’m happy that I was able to attack the zone,” Ohtani commented via an interpreter. Despite expressing contentment, he acknowledged areas for improvement but remained optimistic overall.
His composure on the mound was evident, as he allowed a one-out single to Bobby Witt Jr. in the first inning, followed by a walk to Maikel Garcia. Then, Ohtani delivered the 101.7 mph fastball to Vinnie Pasquantino, inducing a double-play grounder. Ohtani noted, “It’s something I don’t think I would be able to do in a live BP setting. It’s nice to be able to hit this velo and see how my body reacts.”
In the second inning, Ohtani efficiently retired the side, including striking out rookie Jac Caglianone with an 89 mph slider. The Dodgers managed praised Ohtani’s competitive spirit, stating, “I think you can’t take the competitor out of the player. There’s a little bit of stress and that’s when you start to see 100s and trying to bully guys. No one knows himself better than he does and I thought he was in control. Still good to see triple digits.”
Now 30, Ohtani has also made a significant impact as the Dodgers’ primary designated hitter, boasting 29 home runs this season.