Shohei Ohtani Shines with a Solid Performance Despite the Circumstances
In an unexpected turn, Shohei Ohtani took the mound on Friday night for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their matchup against Baltimore. The surprising appearance was due to the absence of Tyler Glasnow, who suffered back stiffness. Ohtani pitched 3⅔ innings without allowing runs, demonstrating once again his versatility and commitment to the team. Despite not being in perfect physical condition, the star player proved his worth. The Japanese pitcher threw 70 pitches, 44 of them in the strike zone, and reached 101.5 mph with his four-seam fastball, facing Orioles third baseman Emmanuel Rivera. He allowed three hits and one walk, while striking out five batters. Ohtani’s effort was recognized by his teammate, Freddie Freeman, who highlighted his dedication and the impact he has on the team.Ohtani, who had missed his previous start due to a cough, received the call to pitch around 2 p.m. Despite the circumstances, he felt good in the game. Manager Dave Roberts decided to take Ohtani out in the fourth inning due to the high pitch count. Roberts explained that he didn’t want to risk the player, especially considering he had a fresh reliever available. Glasnow’s absence was due to back discomfort he felt on Thursday night, so he is under daily evaluation. Roberts is confident that Glasnow can return to action early next week. Ohtani, in addition to pitching, also batted as the leadoff hitter and designated hitter, showing his desire to help the team break their losing streak. The catcher Will Smith did not participate in the game due to inflammation in his right hand and is expected to play with the injury for the rest of the season.You could see he was exhausted after an inning or two. He’s still not healthy. He’s giving it his all. It’s amazing what he’s doing. He’s throwing at 100, 101 mph. We’ll be saying this every year about Shohei Ohtani until he retires. He’s a unicorn. He pitched great. Everything he had in that fourth inning to get out of it.
Freddie Freeman
