he Los Angeles Dodgers have seen a lot of incredible things from their $700 million superstar, but apparently he can keep surprising the team.
Even after forming the 50/50 club and winning his third-career Most Valuable Player Award last year, Shohei Ohtani has more left in the tank. Most recently, he set a new mark during a pitching start against the Kansas City Royals, when he set a career record with his fastball as he works his way back from a second elbow surgery.
“The Dodgers were stunned when he threw a 101.7 mph fastball, the fastest pitch of his career, during a recent start in Kansas City — it essentially came out of nowhere,” Ken Rosenthal wrote for The Athletic.
Ohtani has been limited to two-inning starts since returning to the mound for the Dodgers and simultaneously carrying a full offensive workload as the team’s designated hitter. So the fact that he’s actually improving his fastball velocity is a major surprise, though major surprises are becoming routine for the Japanese star.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 09: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after first base against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning at American Family Field on July 09, 2025 in Milwaukee,… McDermott/Getty
“There is no playbook for what he is doing, building up as a starter in the majors while coming off major elbow surgery and serving as an everyday DH,” Rosenthal added. “With a normal pitcher, teams can anticipate fatigue based on the pitcher’s workload. With Ohtani, any number of variables come into play — travel, schedule, how much he exerts offensively, whether he gets nicked up offensively.”
Ohtani’s elite two-way production is the primary reason the Dodgers granted him the largest contract in franchise history two winters ago. But as he continues to improve that production, even his own team is surprised.
