On a crisp October night in Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium felt less like a ballpark and more like a movie set. The lights, the energy, the anticipation—it all built toward one man. Shohei Ohtani.
In his long-awaited postseason pitching debut at Chavez Ravine, the Dodgers’ two-way superstar delivered a first inning that will live in baseball lore.
After a leadoff walk to Brice Turang, Ohtani struck out the side—three Milwaukee Brewers, three electric strikeouts—each one punctuated by a roar that shook the sellout crowd.
His final pitch of the inning, a sweeping sider, that William Contreras swung wildly on. Ohtani stalked off the mound, eyes burning, heart pounding.
Then, seconds later, he did what only Shohei Ohtani can do.
Leading off the bottom of the first, Ohtani turned on a slider from Jose Quintana and launched it halfway to the moon—446 feet of pure thunder that left his bat at a staggering 117 miles per hour. The sound alone drew gasps. The ball soared into the night, disappearing into a sea of blue as fans leapt from their seats, arms raised in disbelief.
It was baseball perfection—a two-way masterclass that reminded everyone why Ohtani is unlike anything the game has ever seen. The unicorn. The Sho-stopper. Regardless of what you call him, he’s one of a kind.