While Dodgers fans are hoping to see their star Shohei Ohtani pitching again, the Japanese player is currently focused solely on hitting, where his lethality remains intact.
In the series the Los Angeles Angels played against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Ohtani hit his first home run of the season in the second game, becoming the second player of Japanese descent to hit a home run in an MLB game held in Japan, according to Essentially Sports.
The Tokyo Series, which ended with the Dodgers’ victory in two games, was a success. The first game averaged more than 25 million viewers in Japan, according to MLB, making it the most-watched league game in the country’s history.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ 6-3 victory on Wednesday, which included a towering solo home run by Shohei Ohtani, averaged more than 23 million Japanese viewers.
These figures highlight the passion that this sport arouses in Japan, coupled with the impetus given by its star Shohei Ohtani to attract fans from his homeland.
When will Ohtani pitch again?
Essentially Sports noted that while the date for Shohei Ohtani’s return is not yet known, manager Dave Roberts initially mentioned a timeline for May.
However, that plan could change, as Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group said the star “will get back into his rhythm” once the team returns from Japan. The pitching coach, Mark Prior, stressed that there is no rush, saying: “We’ll see where we are in the next 10 days or two weeks”.
This revelation increases the expectation for Dodgers fans to have an unparalleled hitting and pitching force once “Shotime” returns to the mound, says the sports media outlet.
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