Last at-bat double bang! Ohtani 0.304 to finish the exhibition game with Betts back
Mar 26, 2025
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Ohtani played as a leadoff designated hitter in the final exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California on the 26th (Korea time) and recorded one hit in two at-bats.
Ohtani, who stepped down with a fly ball to left field in his first at-bat in the top of the first inning, fired a double in his second at-bat after one out in the third inning with a 2-0 lead.
Against Angels right-hander Jack Cohanowitz, he hit a 95.7-mile fast sinker that penetrated the low course on the sixth pitch from the full count and connected it with a long shot that hit the bottom of the right-center fence. With a launch angle of 23 degrees, a batting speed of 99.3 miles, and a distance of 382 feet, it was a typical 'OtaniPyo' line drive.
Ohtani was replaced by pinch-hitter Austin Barnes in the top of the sixth inning with a 2-1 lead to complete the exhibition game.
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Ohtani injured his left shoulder while stealing in Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees last year and underwent surgery to seal the torn Wasun immediately after the championship event. Ohtani, who clung to his rehabilitation throughout the winter, delayed his participation in the exhibition game and coincidentally played against the Angels for the first time on the 1st.
In the game, he hit a home run in his first at-bat, signaling that his `last year's MVP hitter' is in good shape. He pushed a 93.9-mile fastball into the middle of left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is also from Japan and a senior in high school, and connected it to an arch that easily crossed the left fence.
Since then, he has continued to play, rest, and pitching rehabilitation, but he has made hits in four consecutive games to increase his sense of hitting. In the opening two consecutive games against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome after moving to Japan, he hit three hits in eight at-bats to announce a successful return after shoulder surgery, signaling his performance this season.
In particular, in the second game, Cubs right-hander Nate Pearson's low fastball in the middle of 99.1 miles in the top of the fifth inning led to a solo home run over the right-center fence, reporting his first arch of the season.
Ohtani will play as a leadoff in the mainland's opening game against the Detroit Tigers on the 28th. And on the 30th, he will resume pitching training, which he stopped at the beginning of spring training, and hold his first bullpen pitching of the season. The goal is to return to the mound in May. Until then, he will play as a designated hitter and learn the actual pitching sense of taking the mound in a simulation game. He raised his speed to up to 97 miles in the final bullpen session of spring training.
Meanwhile, Mookie Betts, who is known to have lost 25 pounds over the past two weeks due to enteritis symptoms, participated in the match. He played second shortstop and went 0 for 3.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
