GLENDALE, Arizona. Japanese star Shohei Ohtani once again demonstrated his worth in the baseball world, showcasing his talent in his first Spring Training start with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the hot Arizona environment, Ohtani pitched 4.1 innings without allowing runs, striking out four batters and reaching a maximum speed of 99.9 miles per hour. This performance thrilled the fans present at Camelback Ranch. The right-hander made 61 pitches, of which 34 were strikes. Despite some moments of lack of control, with two walks and a hit batsman, his overall dominance indicated that he is regaining his rhythm as a pitcher, after a time focused mainly on batting.
During the recent 2026 World Baseball Classic, Ohtani participated only as a batter with Japan, where he averaged .462 with three home runs and seven RBIs before his team’s elimination in the quarterfinals. The absence of Ohtani as a pitcher in that tournament raised doubts about his preparation, but his solid performance in the Cactus League dispels many of those questions. Initially, the Dodgers planned for Ohtani to pitch between two and three innings at the start of the regular season. However, after this performance and his physical progress, the outlook has changed significantly.He wants to readjust to pitching, focus on throwing. He’s had enough at-bats
Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager
This advance also affects the planning of the Los Angeles team, which could now start the season with a more stable rotation, without relying so much on long relievers. With this performance, Ohtani not only reaffirms his quality from the mound, but also sends a clear message: he is ready to resume his two-way role and once again be one of the most decisive figures in Major League Baseball.Five innings is reasonable for his first outing
Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager
