Shohei Ohtani has been called a lot of things: superstar, unicorn, once-in-a-lifetime talent and on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, he reminded everyone why. In a 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds, the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ two way sensation not only helped his team complete a sweep but also put together his most impressive outing on the mound since joining L.A.
Ohtani worked a full five innings. He gave up just one run, struck out nine, and tossed a season high 87 pitches. For a pitcher still easing back from his second major elbow surgery, it was the kind of step forward that had Dodgers fans buzzing and opponents shaking their heads.
Ohtani’s nasty stuff
The highlight of the night came in the form of a showdown with Reds slugger Elly De La Cruz. MLB’s official account quickly shared the strikeout clip, a devastating breaking ball that dropped out of the zone and left De La Cruz swinging at air. In slow motion, you could see just how nasty Ohtani’s stuff is, and why hitters dread facing him when he’s locked in.
He leaned heavily on his curveball, throwing it 23 times, making up 26 percent of his total pitches. To put that in perspective, he had thrown just 11 curveballs across his first 10 starts combined. It was clear the Japanese superstar was experimenting, finding his rhythm, and giving fans a glimpse of what he can still become as a pitcher in Dodger blue.
Ohtani’s journey back hasn’t been rushed. After debuting on the mound for the Dodgers on June 16, the team has been careful not to overwork him. The plan remains to cap him at five innings per game this season, allowing his arm to build strength without unnecessary risk. But if Wednesday was any indication, those five innings might be more than enough to tilt games in L.A.’s favor.
Beyond the stat line, there’s a sense of history every time Ohtani takes the field. Fans know they’re watching someone who could go down as the most complete player in baseball history. Nights like this when his pitching matches the electricity of his bat only fuel that belief.
Read the full article here
