Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivered a commanding performance in his first start of 2026, taking the mound against the San Francisco Giants in spring training at Camelback Ranch in Arizona.
Dominant Spring Training Outing
Ohtani pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit, three walks, and one hit batter while striking out four. He threw 61 pitches, with 34 strikes and 27 balls, reaching a top speed of 99.9 mph (about 161 km/h).
The Dodgers held a 3-0 lead when Ohtani exited in the fifth inning after securing the first out of spring training with a sacrifice fly. The Giants mounted a comeback, scoring five runs in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead, but the game extended into the eighth inning.
Ohtani, 32, marked his first spring training appearance as a starter since last year’s World Baseball Classic. Despite missing WBC due to an elbow injury during the tournament, he focused on preparing for a spot in the Dodgers’ 2026 rotation.
Strong Build-Up to the Season
Following the Dodgers’ World Series Game 7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on November 1, Ohtani ramped up his workload. He opened with a 95.3 mph fastball for the first out and navigated two walks in the second by inducing a double play. In the third, he struck out two and escaped further trouble unscathed.
Last season, Ohtani made 14 starts over 47 innings, posting a 1-1 record with one save and a 2.87 ERA. In the postseason, he appeared in four games, going 2-1. This marks his first full-time starting role since 2022, when he recorded 15 wins and nine losses.
Giants’ Response
The Giants managed two hits and one walk against Ohtani. Dodgers infielder Kim Hye-seong contributed with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a single in the sixth, extending his hitless streak to eight games.
