Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani dazzles in spring pitching debut

PHOENIX – Shohei Ohtani’s first spring training start on Wednesday looked nothing like a tune-up. In 4 ⅓ scoreless innings against the Giants at Camelback Ranch, the two-way superstar needed only 61 pitches to strike out four, allow one hit, and flash a fastball that averaged 97.6 mph and peaked at 99.9 mph. The outing came after a compressed build-up that included live batting-practice sessions on the Dodgers’ backfields and similar work with Team Japan during the World Baseball Classic.

Manager Dave Roberts, who had anticipated more rust, called the performance “intense” and said Ohtani’s readiness puts the club on track for a 25-start season with normal five-to-six-day rest. The right-hander’s full arsenal—splitter, sweeper and curveball—generated swings-and-misses, and while he walked two batters and hit another, he exited having exceeded his four-inning target. Ohtani will pitch again in next week’s Freeway Series against the Angels, lining up his regular-season debut for the Dodgers’ second home series versus Cleveland.