Throw it, turn it over. The dimension of existence is different. Ohtani, the only character in major league history in 125 years, and the next goal is to pitch five innings
Jun 23, 2025
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LA Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers) showed a fantastic performance in the pitching again, revealing the presence of a 'true complete baseball player'. In the U.S., he is highly praised for being the first type of player in the 125-year history of Major League Baseball.
But Ohtani is not satisfied here. He also said that he can be satisfied with himself only when he achieves his new goal again. It doesn't look like it's really 'people'.
Ohtani was listed in the starting lineup as the starter and the No. 1 designated hitter in the home game against the Washington Nationals in the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the morning of the 23rd (Korea time).
So far, it is hard to say that he is going to be a true starting pitcher. Ohtani has been dedicated only to at-bats, briefly sealing the pitcher since elbow ligament joint surgery in September 2023. However, he didn't give up the pitcher at all. He has been constantly rehabilitating and preparing to return to the pitcher. After signing a 10-year-$700 million mega contract with the Dodgers last year, he played only as a batter in the 2024 season and achieved the first major league record '50 home run-50 steal'.
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He returned to the pitcher in a surprise move against the San Diego Padres on the 17th. Ohtani showed a maximum speed of 100.2 miles (about 161.3 km) and recorded two hits and one run (28 pitches) in one inning. It was revealed that the rehabilitation was successfully completed in arrest.
Ohtani, who gained confidence, played his second game against Washington on the 23rd after returning to pitching. He was also the first to come out on the day and play the role of 'Opener' who only throws one inning.
His ball power was much better than the last San Diego match. In the top of the first inning, CJ Abrams, his first opponent, induced a ground ball to the first base at the first pitch. He faced off with a 97.2 mile fastball. Second batter James Wood then induced a fly ball to the shortstop, but LA Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts missed it and sent it out on an error.
However, this variable did not shake Ohtani. Ohtani threw a sweeper (85.9 miles) in 2B2S against his follow-up hitter Luis Garcia Jr. and struck out swinging. This was Ohtani's first strikeout for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 669 days since the game against the Cincinnati Reds on August 24, 2023. 'Special Pitcher' is proof that Ohtani is back.
Later, Ohtani sent a runner on first base to second base with a wild pitch during Nathaniel Lowe's at-bat with two outs, but threw a 7th cutter (88.3 miles) at Lowe's ball count of 2B2S to end the first inning without losing a point.
On this day, Ohtani threw a total of 18 pitches. Based on the six four-seam fastballs, he used fast-changing balls such as sweeper (7), cutter (3), and splitter (2), which are now game balls. The maximum speed of the fastball was 98.8 miles (about 159 kilometers).
Now the remaining homework is the ability to digest long innings. Ohtani proved that the basic pitching mechanism was completely revived by pitching in one inning for two consecutive games. Now it's time for sustainability to be tested.
Ohtani also emphasized this part. He is the starting pitcher if he can throw more than five innings after the game. First of all, I'm trying to move forward little by little without retreating to that point"In order to return to the true starting line, he stressed that he has to play longer innings than he is now.
Ohtani continued "It's impossible to increase the number of pitching innings or pitches at once. It will gradually increase. At this stage, it is important to raise the ball power (rather than throwing pitches)," he said. "If we increase the innings little by little in the future, I have confidence that we can become the same as before." The fact that Ohtani has found confidence in his return to the starting lineup is more tragic news than anything else for other teams.
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He struck out in the first and third innings of the day. Until then, the lingering effects of the pitch remain, so it's understandable. In the bottom of the sixth inning, he finally walked and took the first base at his third at-bat with no outs and runners on second base. He homered and scored when Max Muncy hit a grand slam. On base and first score stimulated Ohtani's batting instinct.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, he hit a three-run right-handed triple that brought in all the runners with no outs. In the bottom of the eighth inning, he hit a two-run home run over the left-center wall to make it 13-3 and swept five RBIs on the day. He started and hit a home run and a triple at the plate, sweeping five RBIs.
MLB.COM, the official major league page, said 'This is the second time Otani has had a home run and a triple in his starting game. Ohtani is the first player to play such a game in more than two games in the past 125 years,' he said, praising Ohtani for changing major league history.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
