Shohei Ohtani’s Brief Start Leaves Fans on Edge

Shohei Ohtani had Dodgers fans holding their breath after he exited Wednesday’s game just four innings in, following a tough stretch where he threw six pitches.

Even after leaving the mound, Ohtani remained as a designated hitter, staying in the game for six innings while observing from the batting box.

The Dodgers later confirmed that his early exit was the result of some convulsions, with reports from various sources noting the incident.

In an unusual turn, Ohtani began his outing with six consecutive balls thrown, causing quite a stir among spectators.

This was his seventh appearance on the mound since recovering from elbow surgery, which kept him from pitching last season.

Statcast showed that Ohtani’s fastball averaged an impressive 98.7 mph. In six appearances this season, he has recorded a remarkable 1.50 ERA over 12 innings.

After a slow ramp-up process, Ohtani had recently transitioned from two-inning stints to three, demonstrating the team’s cautious approach to his return. In his last outing, he allowed a double to Gavin Lux in the first inning, subsequently giving up an RBI single to Ellie Delacruz.

Despite these setbacks, he showed his prowess at the plate too, boasting statistics that include 38 home runs and 73 RBIs while maintaining a batting average of .272.

Ohtani is currently in the second year of a substantial 10-year contract with the Dodgers, which adds to the excitement and pressure surrounding his performances.