Ohtani Struggles in First Career Start Against Rockies

Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' notable two-way player, endured a rough first pitching start against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. During the game, Ohtani exited after pitching four innings, during which he allowed five earned runs and nine hits, compounded by a 93-mph line drive that struck his knee.

As the fourth inning unfolded with runners on second and third and one out, Ohtani was struck in the right kneecap by a line drive from Orlando Arcia. Although visibly affected, he managed to recover and continue playing, successfully executing a throw after retrieving the ball but unable to prevent a runner from crossing home plate.

After being assessed by the team's manager and medical staff, Ohtani completed the inning, leaving the Dodgers behind 5-0. This outing was particularly challenging for him as the five earned runs marked the highest he had allowed since July 2022, and the nine hits tied his career high.

Ohtani continued as a batter, drawing a walk in his next at-bat in the fifth inning, though he did not participate in the eighth inning of the game. He was later replaced by Alex Call, who struck out. This match marked Ohtani's tenth start of the season; he had not pitched at all in 2024 due to recovering from elbow surgery. Coming into the game, he had a steady performance with a 3.47 ERA but had not exceeded 4 ⅓ innings nor 80 pitches in his starts. Against the struggling Rockies, he threw 66 pitches with 49 hitting the strike zone. Offensively, Ohtani continues to impress, batting .284 with 44 home runs and 83 RBIs, trailing only Kyle Schwarber in the National League home run race.