2 Years Before Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers Switch, the Japanese Phenom’s Now-Teammate Was Awestruck by Top Play

Shohei Ohtani sent shockwaves through the entire MLB kingdom after signing an unbelievable deal with the LA Dodgers most recently. The Japanese phenomenon might have won the hearts of his current team with his dignified sense of charm. However, this is not the first time the Dodgers have faced a longstanding impact from Ohtani’s skills. A certain teammate was enthralled by the ace’s pitching prowess two years ago.

2021 was one of the best seasons for Ohtani’s form. One of his Dodgers teammates, a certain All-Star first-baseman, was left spellbound after watching Ohtani play like a pitching god. What did this slugger say about the fan favorite Shotime?

“Freak of Nature” Shohei Ohtani poses to be an invincible competitor for his contemporaries

According to the book, Sho-Time The Inside Story of Shohei Ohtani and the Greatest Baseball Season Ever Played, Ohtani’s current teammate Max Muncy was positively thrilled after watching the ace throw high-velocity balls in a game that year. Muncy termed Ohtani “a freak of nature.” What brought about this reaction, one might ask?

Muncy revealed that he has seldom seen a pitcher of Ohtani’s caliber in the MLB arena. Per him, Ohtani hits balls faster than any other player in the league. The Japanese phenom’s throws go harder compared to any other; his running speed isn’t any different, either. The freak remark makes perfect sense now, doesn’t it? What exactly did Ohtani do in 2021 that garnered this attention never seen before in his initial seasons?

Watch This Story: Shohei Ohtani’s Two-Way Dream: Before Injury, He Always Wanted Both!

2021: the season that marked Ohtani’s massive comeback

In the year 2021, Shohei Ohtani was facing a plethora of questions regarding his form from the previous two seasons. The ace struck a series of lows back then, which made his team and spectators cast a gigantic shadow of doubt over his ability to get back in form.

Shotime proved them all wrong by entering the ‘21 games with a renewed zest after avoiding injuries that might have affected his potential. The Angels showed their support by lowering their restrictions on him, which was supposed to improve his performance.

Ohtani paid it back in kind. The slugger opened his first inning of the first starting game with a fastball that went 98.2 m/ph. The rest was history. A history that instantly sent Ohtani from rags to riches, securing his MLB stardom by the end of that season.

Read More: Moments After Receiving a Top Honor in 2021, Shohei Ohtani Predicted His MLB Future With Eerie Accuracy

Let’s hope to see the slugger playing for the Boys in Blue with a similar vigor for the upcoming season. Cheers to Shohei Ohtani and his ability to turn games at a moment’s notice!