Unexpected Pitching from Jhonny Pereda

It’s always amusing to witness athletes switch roles, but watching catcher Jhonny Pereda take the mound for Shohei Ohtani was something else entirely. Here we had arguably the best player in baseball, and he found himself stumped by Pereda’s unique pitching style, a surprising twist in this year’s games.

Pereda’s unconventional mechanics, coupled with his fastball clocking in at 89 mph, kept Ohtani guessing. The crowd couldn’t help but enjoy the spectacle, especially in a game against the Dodgers—a matchup that usually draws attention in Los Angeles.

When Pereda stepped onto the mound, the MLB game felt almost like a playful event, with the home team leading comfortably at 17-2. There’s something oddly entertaining about Pereda’s pitching technique, particularly his quirky backwards trot after each pitch. It’s almost like a little dance—done, I suppose, for a bit of self-preservation.

Interestingly, the only one not having fun seemed to be Ohtani, who looked visibly frustrated, even after hitting two home runs during the game.

While the Dodgers eventually triumphed 19-2, this unusual moment will certainly be remembered.