KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Vinnie Pasquantino might be starting to get a complex.
When the Kansas City Royals first baseman-DH batted against Shohei Ohtani during the 2023 World Baseball Classic quarterfinal matchup between Italy and Japan, Ohtani unleashed a 102 mph fastball – the fastest pitch Ohtani had ever thrown.
The two faced off again Saturday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium with runners on first and second and one out in the first inning. Pasquantino took two fastballs for strikes – one 99.2 mph, the next 100.2 mph.
The third pitch was a 101.7 mph fastball that Pasquantino hit on the ground to Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim who started an inning-ending double play.
It was the fastest pitch of Ohtani’s MLB career and comes in just his third outing as a pitcher since returning from a second elbow surgery.
“It’s something I don’t think I would be able to do in a live BP setting,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “So it’s nice to be able to hit this velo and see how my body reacts.”
The bigger concern might have been how Ohtani’s body would react to a second surgery on his pitching elbow. Many pitchers are unable to regain their former level of performance after two Tommy John surgeries (Ohtani’s second was a TJ revision) – as the Dodgers have seen the past two years with Walker Buehler and Dustin May.
But nothing about Ohtani’s career has been typical.
“I felt pretty good about being able to come back and pitch well – especially considering when I first had the surgery, the second time through it was a lot better in terms of recovery than the first time through,” he said. “And talking to the doctor, he was very confident that I would be able to come back in full form. I do still feel like I have to work on little things on the pitching side in terms of mechanically. So in terms of that, it’s still a work in progress.”
The 101.7 mph might have been a product of the moment, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“I think there was some adrenaline,” Roberts said. “There was some (element of) knowing that you’re only going to go two innings, knowing that you don’t want to give up any runs, I think all of that combined brought us to 102.”
In his four innings on the mound so far this season, Ohtani has averaged 98.6 mph with his four-seam fastball. That is a jump from his velocity before the latest surgery.
NO GO SHO
Ohtani was the top choice in Phase 1 of the All-Star voting, which ended Thursday, guaranteeing his spot in the National League’s starting lineup. He was asked Saturday if he would also participate in the Home Run Derby as the NL leader with 29 home runs.
He indicated that he would not, given the added exertion of the timed rounds.
“With the current rules in place, I don’t think it’s feasible for me to compete well,” he said.
Ohtani has participated in the Derby just once, in 2021 at Coors Field.
He hit 28 home runs but did not advance out of his first-round matchup against Juan Soto, who hit 31.
REHAB ROUNDUP
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow threw 66 pitches in his second rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, but he didn’t complete three innings. That could mean at least two more rehab starts before he could rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation.
“Absolutely,” Roberts said. “We’ve got to build him up.”
Glasnow allowed nine baserunners in 2⅓ innings Friday – five singles, two doubles, a walk and a hit batter.
“The stuff was good. He just wasn’t efficient,” Roberts said. “The hope was for him to get through four innings. …I’m sure in five, six, seven days he’ll do another one and we’ll try to get him into the fourth, fifth inning.”
Right-hander Emmet Sheehan, on the other hand, pitched six perfect innings for OKC on Wednesday, striking out 13 of the 18 batters he faced. He will make another start for OKC, according to Roberts.
“I’m not particularly sure when his next outing is. I know it’s not going to be with us,” he said. “He’ll have another one with OKC, and then at that point in time there might be some things happening.”
Sheehan cannot be recalled until next weekend unless he is replacing another pitcher going on the injured list.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Blake Snell and Blake Treinen threw bullpen sessions again on Sunday. Neither has faced hitters yet, but could soon.
ALSO
Tommy Edman got the day off Saturday, but Roberts said Edman’s ankle has recovered well enough that he will start playing some outfield again. Edman spent the first half of May on the IL with an ankle injury. He has played the outfield just once in June.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (TBA) at Royals (LHP Kris Bubic, 6-5, 2.18 ERA), Sunday, 11:10 a.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM