155.5km → 172.8km → 173.5km, unanimous MVP who became stronger in the hard hit parade embroidered by Ohtani
Mar 18, 2025
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In the opening game of the 2025 regular season against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome, the mecca of Japanese baseball, on the 18th, the Dodgers won 4-1 thanks to Ohtani's hard hitting as the designated leadoff hitter and starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million FA contract last year, wore a Dodgers uniform, and reached the first 50-50 record with 54 home runs and 59 steals, unanimously becoming the NL MVP. He took a season off as a pitcher after undergoing elbow surgery in the previous season, but he made a remarkable performance in history as a batter.
Ohtani, who is scheduled to take the mound in May after about a year of pitching rehabilitation, confirmed his appearance as the defending MVP in his first game as a batter, and last year's World Series winner Dodgers boasted the prowess of the defending champion with perfect pitching and batting harmony.
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The average fastball speed was 1.3 miles faster than last year's 95.5 miles. In other words, he threw with all his might. Last year, he lost five runs in the first inning of the second match of the Seoul Series, and won the opening match for the first time in a year. The splitter, who used 29 pitches, induced 47% (9 out of 19) of swing and miss, effectively overpowered Cubs batters.
Yamamoto gave up the first run in the bottom of the second inning after giving up a heavy hit to Dansby Swanson, and was hit by a double that cut right-center by Miguel Amaya with two outs and second base. However, after that, he prevented additional runs and expanded his chances of winning.
The Dodgers' offense burst from Ohtani's bat.
Ohtani scored his first hit in his third at-bat in the top of the fifth inning, laying the groundwork for his turnaround.
In the top of the fifth inning, Cubs pitcher Imanaga changed from Shota to right-hander Ben Brown, and Andy Parz drew a walk after one. The next batter, Ohtani, hit a right-handed hit to connect the chance to the first and third bases. Ohtani pulled a high knuckle curve 85.6 miles outside of Brown's third and fourth pitches, sending a 107.4 mile (172.8km) line drive ball toward right field. Ohtani's first hit of the season.
The Dodgers then tied the score at 1-1 with Tommy Edman calling in Pazs with a hit in left-center. Then, when Teoscar Hernandez grounded out to third base, Edman, the first baseman, was out at second base, but Ohtani rushed home and turned the tide. Will Smith hit a left-handed hit to run 3-1 with two outs and a runner on second base.
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Ohtani then advanced to third base when Edman grounded out to second base and then homered with Hernandez's left-handed hit to widen the gap to 4-1.
In his second at-bat in the top of the third inning, Ohtani pulled a slightly high sweeper outside Imanaga's 81.7 miles and hit a 96.6 mile (155.5km) line drive. Three of his four hits on the day were hard hits (a tee speed of 95 miles or more).
The Dodgers activated the bullpen from the sixth inning with a 3-1 lead to tie up the Cubs' lineup. As Anthony Banda (one inning with no hits, two strikeouts), Ben Caspariers (one inning with no hits, one strikeout) and Blake Trinen (one inning with no hits, two strikeouts) continued the no-hit parade, closer Tanner Scott took the mound in the ninth inning and lightly cooked three batters and earned the save in one inning.
Game 2 of the Tokyo Series will be held at 7:10 p.m. on the 19th at the same place, with the Dodgers starting with Rocky Sasaki and the Cubs starting with Justin Steel.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
