Shohei Ohtani throws fastest pitch of his MLB career in third ramp-up start of season
Shohei Ohtani brought out the heat on Saturday.
Ohtani, 30, lit up the radar gun during his third start of the 2025 season, reaching 101.7 mph on the 14th pitch of his outing against the Royals — good for the fastest pitch of his MLB career.
Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino was able to make contact with the heater, but ultimately grounded into a double play to close out the first inning.
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Ohtani's previous fastest MLB pitch came back in 2022 when he threw a 101.4 mph fastball to then-Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker.
The team said that Ohtani's pitch Saturday was the hardest thrown by any Dodgers hurler so far this season.
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Ohtani also hit triple digits earlier in the at-bat against Pasquantino, dotting a 100.2 mph fastball on the inside corner.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Ohtani did reach 102 mph during the 2023 World Baseball Classic — and it came against Pasquantino.
The three-time MVP wound up throwing two innings on Saturday, giving up one hit while notching a strikeout and a walk in his third start since the 2023 season.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani throws a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
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Through his three appearances this year, Ohtani has allowed one run and struck out three through four innings pitched.
Ohtani's return to the mound comes after the four-time All-Star underwent his second elbow surgery in 2023 as a member of the Angels.
Ohtani had a 10-5 record with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts through 132 innings pitched before ultimately being sidelined from the mound for the remainder of the 2023 season with the elbow issue.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani throws a pitch in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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Both Ohtani and Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts have described the two-way star's pitching buildup as 'gradual.'
The right-hander told reporters following his start against the Nationals on Sunday, 'I want to see improvements with the quality of the pitches that I'm throwing, and then also increasing the amount of pitches.'
'I think that it's more of just trying to get the foundation, the building blocks as he's [pitching and] taking at-bats,' Roberts added. '[We are] erring on the side of caution … There's no sense in rushing it right now.'
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