It was a splendid return match for Ohtani Shohei (29·LA Angels). He showed a live-action version of the cartoon baseball that enthused the major leagues in front of Japanese fans.
On the 6th, Ohtani started as the designated hitter in the match against the Hanshin Tigers in the official evaluation match of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) held at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. led
Ohtani was selected for the Japanese national team for the first time since the 2015 WBSC Premier12 tournament. He is facing the first WBC of his life. He was great in 2015, but in the meantime, Ohtani became a major leaguer and is now writing the history of a two-time double player that no one can match.
On this day, Ohtani played a game on the Japanese stage after a long time, receiving the attention of Osaka baseball fans. 메이저사이트
On this day, in his first at-bat in the first inning, Ohtani was hit by a powerful fastball from Hanshin starter Hiroto Saiki. He missed all of Saiki’s 154km, 154km, 148km, and 154km fastballs. He struck out on a swing and withdrew.
But his second at-bat was different. Ohtani kicked up Saiki’s 136 km fork ball with 1 ball and 2 strikes and fired 3 mid-month shots. He kicked the low-falling ball up by bending his knees and sent the ball over the fence. Kyocera Dome fell into a crucible of enthusiasm.
According to Japanese media, it has been 1974 days since October 9, 2017 that Ohtani played a real game in Japan. It was explained that the national team game was only 2304 days after the evaluation match against the Netherlands held at Tokyo Dome on November 13, 2016, and the home run in the national team was 2305 days after November 12, 2016.
Ohtani said in his home run impressions conveyed through the organizing committee, “Because of the jet lag, my physical condition is not 100% good. He was worried about striking out at the plate, but he was still able to swing well into the splitter.”
Saiki Hiroto, who fell victim to Ohtani’s miraculous ‘knee shot’ home run, also told the organizing committee about his feelings against Ohtani, saying, “I threw a fastball and a breaking ball with a good feeling today. I took the lead against Ohtani with the best pitch I could. He made a foul with a sharp fastball, but eventually let go of one hand and sent the ball away. I threw a forkball where I wanted it, but I hit it perfectly and was frustrated.”
However, Ohtani’s manga baseball was not over. In the 5th inning with 2nd out and 1st and 2nd base chance, he entered the 3rd at-bat. And Ohtani once again unleashed his monstrous power. He hit a 142km fastball from left-hander Domi Darren and exploded another three-run home run over the middle fence. He showed off his supernatural power, such as a three-run home run. Ohtani played 3 at-bats until the 5th inning, and was replaced by Yamakawa Hotaka before the 4th at-bat in the 7th inning, and was eliminated from the game that day.
It was Ohtani’s one-man show that everyone couldn’t help but be enthusiastic about. The atmosphere of the game that Ohtani had heightened, and Japan’s momentum, did not fade. In the end, with Ohtani’s performance, the Japanese national team won a complete victory. On the 3rd, the match against the Chunichi Dragons held at the Nagoya Vantelin Dome was a 2-7 complete loss, and the chilly atmosphere was reversed at once.
Starter Yamamoto Yoshinobu came off the mound with 50 pitches, 4 hits (1 home run), 4 strikeouts and 1 run in 3 innings.
In addition to Ohtani, Lars Nuthba, a mixed-race Japanese major leaguer, announced that he was in good condition with 2 hits, 1 RBI and 1 run in 3 at-bats.