Pitcher Shohei Ohtani sets new personal record with his fastest throw in his third outing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball.
Ohtani Fires Blazing Heater
Shohei Ohtani, the MLB's two-way sensation, lit up the mound like never before on Saturday. In his third start as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani hurled a searing fastball against the Kansas City Royals, reaching a speed of 101.7 mph – a personal best in his big league career.
Sporting a smirk, Ohtani returned to the dugout after grounding Vinnie Pasquantino into a double play following that monstrous pitch. "LetTING my arm fly a bit is something I wouldn't have attempted in a batting practice setting," Ohtani explained through interpreter Will Ireton, according to MLB.com. "It was a thrill to reach these speeds, seeing how my body copes with the intensity."
Ohtani felt invigorated after his performance. "Making a strong comeback has been my ultimate goal since the surgery – particularly considering my recovery during the second round was significantly easier than the first," Ohtani added. He was confident based on the doctors' assurances that he can play at his full potential.
Ohtani's sizzling pitch was the swiftest delivered by any Dodger this season and ranked second quickest since 2023 in franchise history, with four other pitches above the 100 mph mark this season being thrown by none other than the Japanese phenomenon himself, as relayed by MLB.com.
Dave Roberts, the Dodgers' manager, marveled at the power on display. "There's a hint of tension when a player attempts to touch triple digits, and it's breathtaking to witness," he said, also praising Ohtani's sinker and sweeper.
Interestingly, Ohtani had previously thrown a 102 mph pitch for Team Japan during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Guess who was on the receiving end of that historic throw? None other than Vinnie Pasquantino, who commented, "Ohtani keeps launching these unbelievable speeds at me – two of my toughest pitches have come straight from him. I really need to sit down and chat with him."
During his time on the mound, Ohtani allowed only one hit to Bobby Witt Jr. and one walk to Maikel García in the first inning, followed by a one-two-three shutout in the second. Overall, he threw 27 pitches, 20 of which were strikes, and struck out one batter, Jac Caglianone.
Unfortunately, the Japanese superstar struggled at the plate, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. In his five seasons with the Angels, Ohtani had 86 starts on the mound, compiling an impressive 38-19 record and a 3.01 ERA.
Shohei Ohtani's lightning-fast pitch, reaching 101.7 mph, was the swiftest by any Dodgers player this season and ranked second quickest since 2023 in franchise history. Ohtani, the MLB's two-way sensation, previously threw a 102 mph pitch for Team Japan, against Vinnie Pasquantino during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
