Shohei Ohtani launched his first home run as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, ending a sense of frustration after a slow start to the year.
Ohtani pumped his fist as he touched first base, to the roar of a packed Dodger Stadium. The towering home run traveled 430 feet into the right field bleachers, leaving Ohtani’s bat at 105.6 mph.
Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton that he received sound advice from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts which contributed to his first big moment in front of the home crowd, via SportsNet LA:
“I actually talked to Doc [Wednesday] morning and he told me, ‘Just be yourself and don’t try to do too much.’ So that really helped me a lot to be able to calm myself down and be myself. I’m really glad I was able to do that and hope to continue to do that.”
Ohtani’s homer extended the Dodgers lead to 5-3 in the seventh inning and proved to be the difference as Jorge Soler hit a solo shot in the eighth.
Through 41 plate appearances and entering play Friday afternoon, Ohtani is batting .270/.317/.432 with one home run, seven runs scored and four RBI. The expectation is Ohtani will begin to find his groove as he gets more comfortable with the Dodgers and settles into being part of a new team.
Shohei Ohtani ‘very relieved’ to hit first Dodgers home run
Ohtani may have been feeling a lot of the pressure that comes with signing a record $700 million contract, but talent always rises to the top. His current situation with former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is ongoing, and he’s needed to push on with his play this season.
“Honestly, very relieved that I was able to hit my first homer,” Ohtani said. “It’s been a while and honestly my swing hasn’t been great. So overall, very relieved.”
The drought of his first homer wasn’t a prolonged period by normal standards, but Ohtani’s power spelled a big swing was coming.
“My impression was it was getting a little longer than my expectations, and during those situations it’s easy to become anxious,” he added. “So I was overall just relieved.”
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