The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani’s long-awaited return to the mound hit an unexpected snag in Cincinnati.
With two runners on and no outs in the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Reds, the Dodgers’ two-way star was pulled after throwing six consecutive balls, including two fastballs that weren’t just outside—they were wild. Ohtani walked off the mound with manager Dave Roberts and an athletic trainer, raising instant alarms across MLB.
The official cause remains unclear, although with the game-time temperature hovering around 90 degrees and 56% humidity, dehydration or cramping is the most likely explanation. However, a deeper look at Ohtani’s pitch data reveals a more nuanced picture.
Velocity Was Up—But Control Wasn’t
Before his removal, Ohtani had allowed five hits, two runs, and two walks across three innings. He only struck out four on 51 pitches. From a pure stuff perspective, he actually looked sharp, at least early.
According to Statcast, his four-seam fastball touched 101.0 mph and averaged 98.7 mph, an uptick from the 97.3 mph average in his July 21 outing. His sweeper averaged 85.2 mph with an elite spin rate of 2665 rpm, also higher than his previous start. In fact, most of his pitches were tracking above season averages in both velocity and spin.
But velocity isn’t everything. Ohtani’s command showed cracks early, with a strike rate of just 39% overall. His sweeper—the pitch he threw 28 times—had a whiff rate of 53%, but also saw the most balls put in play. His fastball, while fast, produced just one whiff out of five swings and included the two wildest misses of the night.
The underlying issue wasn’t effectiveness—it was erratic command. His sinker dropped slightly in average velocity from his last start and failed to generate any swings and misses. The one splitter he threw registered the lowest spin rate (1389 rpm) and was immediately shelved. All signs suggest something felt off mechanically or physically before the fourth inning even started.
In his July 21 start against the Twins, Ohtani went 3 innings and showcased more variety, throwing five different pitch types. His average velocity across the board was slightly lower than in Cincinnati, but his command was noticeably better: 52% zone rate versus 39% on Wednesday, and a 30% CSW (called strikes + whiffs) rate compared to just 19% against the Reds.
More concerning is the decline in induced vertical break on his four-seamer and sweeper, both down from his prior start. That could point to fatigue, poor grip (due to sweat or humidity), or an early physical limitation that emerged before his command cratered.
His final six pitches—all balls—were not borderline misses. They were uncompetitive, yanked pitches that mirrored the kind of abrupt mechanical breakdown often seen before injury-related exits.
Dodgers Will Monitor Closely—And Rightly So
The Dodgers have handled Ohtani with extreme care during his gradual return from elbow surgery. His pitching innings have been carefully ramped up—from one to two to three—and he hasn’t thrown more than 60 pitches in an outing all season.
Wednesday’s early exit may end up being minor. He was later seen in the on-deck circle, indicating the possibility of staying in the game as a hitter. Still, anytime your $700 million MVP walks off the mound mid-at-bat with a trainer, concern is justified.
Whether it’s a hydration issue or a red flag ahead of the trade deadline. The Dodgers now face a critical decision: do they scale back Ohtani’s mound work even further, or brace for something bigger?
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