"Finally!" Ohtani KKKKKKKKKSTORM strikeout show! "Maximum 159km." But what do you mean a losing pitcher? ... Manager Roberts' expectations explode. "We're ready.""

*This content was translated by AI.

Shohei Ohtani (32, LA Dodgers) is finally back in the form we knew. In his last appearance in the exhibition game, he pitched well, striking out as many as 11 although he was in a losing space.

Ohtani started the exhibition game of the Los Angeles Angels and 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 25th (Korea time) and allowed four hits, two walks, 11 strikeouts and three runs (three earned) in four innings.

Ohtani's total number of pitches on the day was 86. Of those, there were 49 strikes. The maximum speed of the fastball was 98.5 miles (158.5 kilometers). However, the Dodgers lost 0-3 after showing a lethargic offense, and Ohtani took the loss.

Ohtani showed a strong pitch at the start of the game and dominated the Angels batters. He got off to a fresh start in the top of the first inning by striking out the leadoff hitter Jack Neto with a swing and miss. He then struck out Angels star Mike Trout with a swing and miss, and quickly filled two out-counts with consecutive strikeouts. In the end, even the third surprised Shanuel led to a ground ball in front of the shortstop, ending the first inning with three outs.

Ohtani was on the verge of first and second bases with no outs in the top of the second inning, allowing a hit by leadoff hitter Jorge Soler and a walk to Yoan Moncada, respectively. However, Joe Adele, Josh Lowe, and Travis Dano showed their strength to strike out three batters in a row.

Ohtani's strikeout show continued to unfold. In the top of the third inning, Ohtani showed off his power by striking out Oswald Peraza, Jack Neto and Mike Trout, respectively. He then gave up a walk in the fourth inning, but he showed his strength to strike out all three batters.

Ohtani's run came in the fifth inning. Ohtani allowed the first run, giving up three hits in a row to leadoff hitter Josh Lowe, follow-up Dano and Peraza. Here, instead of lowering Ohtani, the Dodgers put Antoine Kelly on the mound. But Kelly was shaken, too. Sanchez's subsequent bunt hit led to a one-out full base situation, and the score was 0-3 as he threw consecutive push walks. In the end, the Dodgers lost 0-3 after five scattered hits and empty balls.

According to Japanese media such as Nikkan Sports, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game about Ohtani's pitch, "He's ready. You can take the mound at any time. "The pitch intensity and concentration were all sufficient," he said. "The game was a game that struck out a lot." The pitching rhythm was also good. I pitched efficiently," he said, giving compliments. "The sinker was good, and the curve was also powerful. The fact that left-handed hitters and right-handed hitters can be handled in different pitches is proof that Ohtani is confident in various pitching methods," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Ohtani was only committed to hitting the next year, 2024, due to elbow ligament joint surgery (Tommy John Surgery) he underwent in 2023. And he wrote a new history of 50 home runs and 50 steals for the first time in the major leagues in the 2024 season. In 159 games, he played a batting average of 0.310 (197 hits in 636 at-bats), 54 home runs, 38 doubles, seven triples, 134 runs with 130 RBIs, 162 strikeouts with 81 walks, a on-base percentage of 0.390 (4 failures), a slugging percentage of 0.646 and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.066. He ranked second in home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS in the National League.

In the 2025 season, he played in 158 games with a batting average of 0.282, 55 home runs, 102 RBIs, 20 steals, and 1.014 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). He hit the mark of 50 home runs and 100 RBIs for two consecutive seasons. In addition, he proudly ranked No. 1 in the National League scoring category, No. 1 in the OPS, and No. 2 in the home run category. In June last year, he returned to pitching and hitting again. As a pitcher, he took the mound in 14 games in the 2025 season, marking a 1-1 record with a 2.87 ERA.

This season, Ohtani will play the 5th starting role, focusing on the same Japanese pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, following Emmett Sheehan, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.