Seeing Shohei Ohtani suit up in blue and white may take some getting used to but the Japanese phenom is back, and back with a bang. The Los Angeles Dodgers newly-signed superstar was the star attraction during Sunday’s Opening Day matchup versus the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea. In front of a boisterous crowd at the Gocheok Sky Dome, the two-time AL MVP did not disappoint.
Ohtani recorded his first ever hit in a Dodgers uniform off compatriot Yu Darvish in the third inning, but it was another moment during that at-bat that captured the attention of baseball fans around the globe. Known for his extraordinary power, Ohtani took a 1-1 cutter from Darvish deep. The ball was hit so hard (119 mph) that it actually shattered the roof of the Gocheok Sky Dome. Fans, including Ohtani’s wife, were in awe after the rocket to right field. Unfortunately, the ball was called foul, denying Ohtani his first home run of the year.
Shohei Ohtani shattered the roof with a 119 MPH foul ball 🤯 pic.twitter.com/uv6OyRTBQI
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 20, 2024
Shockingly, this is not the first time Ohtani has managed to take a ball through the roof of a baseball stadium. The 29-year-old slugger achieved the same feat at the Tokyo Dome in 2016 while featuring for the Japan national team versus Netherlands.
The Dodgers pulled off the signing of the decade this offseason when they locked up Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract.
In 2022, the two-way sensation finished the year with 34 home runs and 95 RBIs. On the defensive front, he contributed with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts. Last year, he recorded 44 home runs, 95 RBIs, struck out 167 batters and finished with 10 wins to earn his second MVP award.
