The baseball world held its collective breath. Shohei Ohtani, the two-way superstar who had Tommy John surgery, was returning to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers in spring training against the San Francisco Giants.
And then he reminded everyone why he's the most electrifying player in baseball.
Ohtani threw 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four batters and walking two. But here's the stat that should terrify the rest of the league: his fastball averaged 98 mph. In spring training.
Let me break that down. Most pitchers coming back from Tommy John surgery are happy to hit 92-93 mph in their first outings. They're cautious, trying to find their rhythm, not pushing too hard. Ohtani came out throwing gas like he never left.
This wasn't just about velocity, though. His command looked sharp. His breaking pitches had bite. He worked efficiently, throwing just 61 pitches across those 4.1 innings. This was a pitcher in complete control, shaking off the rust and showing he's ready for the regular season.
The Dodgers didn't just sign Ohtani for his bat - though that 2024 MVP-caliber hitting certainly helps. They signed him knowing that when he came back healthy on the mound, they'd have a legitimate ace to lead their rotation. And based on this performance, that's exactly what they're getting.
Think about what this means for the rest of baseball. The Dodgers were already the favorites in the National League. They've got a stacked lineup, a deep bullpen, and solid starting pitching. Now add Shohei Ohtani throwing 98 mph heat at the top of the rotation.
Good luck, everyone else.
The two-way experiment in Los Angeles was always going to be fascinating. Can he hit and pitch at an elite level for a World Series contender? Will the Dodgers manage his workload carefully? How will they navigate the schedule to maximize his impact?
But after watching him throw 4.1 scoreless innings in his first start back, averaging 98 mph, those questions feel less important. The answer to "Is back?" is a resounding .
