Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani threw the fastest pitch of his career on Saturday, delivering a 101.7 mph fastball in the first inning during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 9-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals. This marked Ohtani’s first time pitching two innings since returning to the mound this month after nearly two years away due to elbow surgery.
In the first inning, Ohtani allowed a line drive single to Bobby Witt Jr. and walked Maikel Garcia. He quickly went up two strikes against Vinnie Pasquantino, throwing a 99.2 mph fastball followed by a 100.2 mph fastball. Pasquantino ultimately grounded into a double play off Ohtani’s record-setting fastball. Ohtani retired three straight batters in the second inning, finishing with 27 pitches, 20 of which were strikes.
At the plate, Ohtani struggled, striking out twice and ending the day with an 0-for-4 performance. The reigning National League Most Valuable Player returned to the mound for the first time since August 2023, when he tore elbow ligaments while pitching for the Los Angeles Angels.
Since joining the Dodgers on a 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023, Ohtani has excelled with his bat, but the team has taken a cautious approach to his return to pitching. He has now pitched four innings across three outings this season, with Saturday’s start being his first on the road.
