Shohei Ohtani's impressive performance, which included hitting 54 home runs this season, earned him his third MVP award after signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, only a select few had the opportunity to witness his inaugural official home run, which occurred during his days at Hanamaki Higashi High School in Iwate Prefecture on May 4, 2011.

In a game against Hanamaki Minami Senior High School during the Iwate prefectural tournament, Ohtani, a second-year student known for his height and exceptional pitching speed, drew significant attention. Notably, Katsutoshi Takahashi, the coach of Hanamaki Minami, felt apprehensive seeing Ohtani's name on the lineup, fully aware of the challenge posed by such a talented player.

The game commenced with Hanamaki Higashi quickly scoring, thanks to Ohtani's hit that drove in the first run. Once on the mound, Ohtani demonstrated his pitching prowess by consistently delivering strikes. His performance included a notable double in the third inning, and despite being hit by a pitch, he didn't let it deter him; instead, he hit a remarkable three-run home run shortly after.

Remarkably, Ohtani completed a cycle during that game, contributing five RBIs as the match concluded with a dominating 19-0 score under the mercy rule. His pitching was equally impressive, as he achieved a no-hit, no-run game, recording a total of 11 strikeouts. Takahashi noted that opposing teams often attempted to adjust their defense to counter Ohtani's hitting, yet he consistently found effective ways to score.

Years have flown by since that pivotal moment, and now at 30, Ohtani is celebrated as a potentially unparalleled baseball player. Reflecting on the evolution of high school baseball in Iwate, Takahashi remarked that the region, previously seen as lacking talent, now fosters aspirations of greatness among its youth, hoping to eventually witness another talent like Ohtani.