Ohtani’s Dodgers Debut: Not Perfect, But Who Cares? He’s Back.
Man, you could feel the buzz in the air Monday night. Shohei Ohtani—yeah, that guy—finally did the double-duty thing again for the Dodgers. First time since last August, if you can believe it. And honestly? It was messy, kinda wild, and absolutely must-watch TV. That’s Ohtani for you.
On the Mound: Vintage Stuff With Some Rust
That One Inning Told Us Everything
28 pitches. One run. Two hits. Classic Ohtani—flashes of brilliance mixed with “wait, what was that?” moments. His fastball? Still scary. Touched 98 like it was nothing. But that splitter? Hung it once, and boom, instant regret. Thing is, after elbow surgery and nearly a year off, what did we expect? The fact he’s out there at all is insane when you think about it.
Remember 2023? Yeah, This Wasn’t That
Let’s be real—this wasn’t peak Ohtani mowing down batters with 100 mph gas and that slider that makes guys look silly. But here’s the kicker: if this is his “rusty” version, imagine when he shakes it off. Dodgers will take this any day.
At the Plate: Swing and a Miss (Literally)
First AB = Oof
Strikeout on a high fastball? Not what we’re used to from a guy who usually treats pitchers like they’re throwing batting practice. Timing looked off—maybe adrenaline, maybe just needing reps. But come on, it’s Ohtani. Dude could hit .300 in his sleep.
Doing Both Is Hard. Like, Really Hard.
Here’s the thing: pitching and hitting in the same game? It’s like running a marathon then solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded. Ohtani’s done it less than 20 times since 2021 for a reason. Dodgers will baby him, but when he’s on? Magic.
Twitter Lost Its Mind (Obviously)
Best Takes From the Internet
My personal favorite? Some fan’s sign: “Ohtani, pick one talent so the rest of us don’t feel bad.” Exactly. Also saw a clip of his fastball with the caption “Welcome back, freak.” Perfect.
What the Dodgers Are Saying
Dave Roberts nailed it: “He’s shaking off cobwebs.” And Freddie Freeman? “The guy’s a unicorn.” No kidding. One inning doesn’t define him—his highlight reel does.
What’s Next? More Chaos, Probably
Pitch Counts and Baby Steps
Next start in 5-6 days, but don’t expect 100 pitches. Dodgers will ease him in like he’s made of glass. Smart move—no need to rush when October’s the goal.
Dreaming Big
30 homers? 150 Ks? Why not? If he stays healthy—big if—this Dodgers team becomes scary good. Ohtani’s the wild card that could break baseball.
Final Thought
Perfect? Nah. But who cares? Ohtani doing Ohtani things again is all that matters. Baseball’s just more fun when he’s out there being ridiculous. So—slow start or greatness brewing? I’m betting on the latter.
Source: ESPN – News
