Ohtani unleashes 101.7mph fastball in third start for Dodgers
Ohtani pitched two innings for the first time since he returned to the mound this month after a near two-year absence in the wake of elbow surgery.
With one out in the first he gave up a line drive single to Bobby Witt Jr then walked Maikel Garcia.
Ohtani then went up two strikes against Vinnie Pasquantino -- on a 99.2 mph fastball and a 100.2 mph fastball, Pasquantino finally grounding into a double play off Ohtani's blistering 101.7 mph four-seam fastball -- the fastest pitch by a Dodgers hurler this year.
Ohani retired three straight batters in the second and finished with 27 pitches, 20 of them strikes.
At the plate, Ohtani struck out twice before he was taken out as pitcher, finishing the day 0-for-4.
Ohtani, the reigning National Legue Most Valuable Player, returned to the mound this month for the first time since August 2023 -- when he tore elbow ligaments pitching for the Los Angeles Angels.
He has starred with his bat since joining the Dodgers on a 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023 but the team have taken a careful approach to his return to the mound.
He has now pitched four innings in three outings this season with Saturday's start his first on the road.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
2 days ago
- France 24
Ohtani unleashes 101.7mph fastball in third start for Dodgers
Ohtani pitched two innings for the first time since he returned to the mound this month after a near two-year absence in the wake of elbow surgery. With one out in the first he gave up a line drive single to Bobby Witt Jr then walked Maikel Garcia. Ohtani then went up two strikes against Vinnie Pasquantino -- on a 99.2 mph fastball and a 100.2 mph fastball, Pasquantino finally grounding into a double play off Ohtani's blistering 101.7 mph four-seam fastball -- the fastest pitch by a Dodgers hurler this year. Ohani retired three straight batters in the second and finished with 27 pitches, 20 of them strikes. At the plate, Ohtani struck out twice before he was taken out as pitcher, finishing the day 0-for-4. Ohtani, the reigning National Legue Most Valuable Player, returned to the mound this month for the first time since August 2023 -- when he tore elbow ligaments pitching for the Los Angeles Angels. He has starred with his bat since joining the Dodgers on a 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023 but the team have taken a careful approach to his return to the mound. He has now pitched four innings in three outings this season with Saturday's start his first on the road.
France 24
23-06-2025
- France 24
Ohtani bags strikeouts, home run as Dodgers rout Nats
Ohtani, making just his second appearance from the mound since undergoing elbow ligament surgery in 2023, bagged two strikeouts in an 18-pitch appearance at Dodger Stadium. The Japanese superstar then followed up that lone inning with a huge offensive performance, blasting a three-run triple and a two-run home run as the Dodgers piled on the runs in the late innings to romp to victory. Ohtani, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player, only returned to pitching last Monday after a near two-year absence. The 30-year-old is being eased back into the pitching rotation by the Dodgers, who have restricted him to two single-inning pitching performances so far. Ohtani tore elbow ligaments just over two years ago and underwent Tommy John surgery, leaving him unable to pitch, although was still able to bat after joining the Dodgers on a 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that the team would continue to take a cautious approach with Ohtani's pitching as the season progresses. "Right now, he's good with one inning," Roberts told reporters. "It's just more trying to get a foundation, the building blocks, as he's taking at bats and getting an inning here, and an inning erring on the side of caution. "He's understanding where he's at, and where we're at. As time goes on we'll get to a certain point, but there's no sense in rushing it." Ohtani is widely regarded as a modern-day Babe Ruth, a rarity in baseball in that he combines elite hitting and pitching. Last year he became the first player in history to score 50 home runs and nab 50 stolen bases in a season -- a statistical feat once regarded as unthinkable -- before helping the Dodgers win last year's World Series. Sunday's home run was his 26th of the season, a tally that has helped the Dodgers move to the top of the National League West division.
France 24
19-06-2025
- France 24
US immigration agents barred from LA baseball stadium: team
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrived at the stadium and "requested permission to access the parking lots," the Dodgers said in a statement. "They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization," the Dodgers said in a statement, adding that the team's game later Thursday would go ahead as scheduled. Images and video shared on social media showed a line of unmarked trucks and masked ICE agents at one Dodger Stadium entrance while protesters chanting "ICE out of LA" gathered nearby. The incident comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Los Angeles, which has become ground zero of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown across the US. The city has seen scattered violence but mostly peaceful protests in recent weeks ignited by an escalation in federal immigration sweeps that have targeted migrant workers in garment factories, car washes and other workplaces. In addition to mobilization of ICE agents, Trump ordered the deployment of thousands of US National Guard troops and hundreds of US Marines into the city in response to the protests -- a move that was opposed by city leaders and California Governor Gavin Newsom. The incident at Dodger Stadium on Thursday comes as the reigning World Series champions have faced criticism for their response to the immigration crackdown. A huge part of the team's fan base is drawn from the Latino community, with some fans claiming a sense of betrayal over the franchise's failure to speak out against the ongoing raids. © 2025 AFP
