Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Showed Off His Speed in the Most Unfortunate Way Possible
Opening Day at Dodger Stadium on Thursday for the Boys in Blue was nearly flawless. The Dodgers beat down the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-1, and everything went according to plan. Dodgers ace Tyler Glasnow pitched a gem, only allowing two hits, one earned run, and five strikes on 81 pitches.
The big three — Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman — were as good as advertised. They combined to go 5-for-8 with two home runs, four RBIs, six runs, and four walks. The trio could do no wrong, unless you count Ohtani’s baserunning after his first hit at Dodger Stadium as a member of the home team.
It was a scorcher.
Ohtani’s line drive to right field came with Mookie Betts at first base. The ball hit the wall and it seemed like it was enough to bring home Betts from first base; however, third base coach Dino Ebel held up Betts at third as Ohtani was making his way around second. That resulted in Ohtani getting caught up between second and third base and eventually being called out at third base.
Maybe Ohtani wasn’t paying attention, or Ebel was being too conservative. Whatever it was, there was clear miscommunication. Ohtani told reporters, including Dodgers Nation’s J.P. Hoornstra, that he was late picking up third base coach Dino Ebel after doubling in his first home at-bat with the Dodgers.
“Really I just passed by the bag way too quicker than the lead runner so I wasn’t able to pick up Dino in time. It was a situation I hadn’t encountered in spring training.”
— Shohei Ohtani, via interpreter Will Ireton
Manager Dave Roberts also sized up the play from his vantage point.
It was a moment we could all laugh at now, especially since Freeman went up to the plate and brought in Betts himself.
This isn’t the Angels anymore, Shohei. You have more than capable players behind you to bring you home on a night-in, night-out basis. I’m sure fans love his aggressive mindset and wheels, but next time, get your double safely and wait for Freeman to knock you in more often than not.
Photo Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
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That error was clearly Ebel’s. Even if Betts were thrown out at the plate, we’d still have a guy on third with one out, it would just be Ohtani instead of Betts. But Ebel is a gem, that was one, and not like him normally, it is not likely to happen again.