The baseball world is buzzing after Ohtani not only smashed his 28th home run of the season but also unleashed the fastest pitch of his career, clocking in at a jaw-dropping 163.3 km/h. This electrifying performance has solidified Ohtani’s status as a dual-threat sensation, and his impact is reverberating throughout Major League Baseball.
During the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory over the Royals, Ohtani’s historic homer tied him with Dodgers legends Gil Hodges and Duke Snider, both of whom reached the same milestone in their first 82 games of the season. But the fireworks didn’t end there. Just four days later, Ohtani took the mound and delivered a performance that left Royals first baseman Vinnie Pascantino utterly stunned. After facing Ohtani’s blazing fastballs, Pascantino took to social media with a bewildered “What the?” and shared his disbelief in an interview, recalling how Ohtani’s two hardest pitches were thrown against him.
The intensity of Ohtani’s performance has drawn comparisons to the legendary Willie Mays, as he became the first player since Mays in 1954 to achieve 28 home runs and six triples in the first 80 games of the year. As Ohtani continues to rewrite the record books, fans are left wondering: how much further can he elevate his game? The excitement surrounding Ohtani’s dual-threat capabilities is palpable, and Dodgers fans are eager to see what this remarkable athlete will do next. Stay tuned as the saga of Shohei Ohtani unfolds—this is a story you won’t want to miss!