Three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani’s most recent return trip the mound should strike fear in the rest of MLB. On Saturday against the Kansas City Royals, Ohtani started for the third time since taking 2024 off as a pitcher and looked stronger than ever. In the first inning, Ohtani threw a 102 mph four-seam fastball to Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who hit a ground ball to second base for 4-6-3 double play. As Bleacher Report noted, it was the hardest-thrown pitch of Ohtani’s career. After throwing one inning in each of his first two starts, Ohtani pitched two full innings against the Royals, allowing two base runners (one walk, one hit) in the seven batters he faced with one strikeout. He threw an efficient 27 pitches, including 20 for strikes, and got ahead in the count with a strike to begin each at-bat. If Ohtani, who didn’t pitch in 2024 while recovering from 2023 Tommy John surgery, continues throwing as hard and fast as he did against the Royals, it could make the reigning NL MVP even more dangerRead More
Latest Shohei Ohtani pitching performance should scare rest of MLB
