Shohei Otani returned to Japan after many years. Today, he scored a 3-run home run in the 3 innings of the official warm-up match of the classic game, and he hit the home run on his left knee, and added a 3-point shot in the 5th inning. The Osaka Dome also surprised Daisuke Matsuzaka, the “Heisei monster” who served as a TV commentator.
After 5 years of playing for the Angels in the United States, Otani put on a Japanese jersey for the first time to advance to the classic game. Today, in the first official warm-up match against the Japanese Hanshin team, he served as the designated hitter with 3 bats. Fans inside sang cheering songs from his time in Nippon Ham.
Otani faced Hanshin’s starting pitcher Hiroto Saiki. He hit a 154-kilometer fastball with 2 good and 1 bad strikeouts. He fought again in the 3 innings. The number of balls was also 2 good and 1 bad. He caught 136 kilometers and was low. The ball just knelt down and hit the center field stands, helping Japan expand to a 4:0 lead.
This was Japan’s first home record in an official warm-up match. The media pointed out that this crossed ball was a bad ball even if Otani didn’t swing the bat. Unexpectedly, he just knelt on his left knee and fired.
Japan led 4:1 in the first 4 innings. In the 5th inning, Otani faced Hanshin’s second pitcher Ren Tomita. He caught a 142-kilometer high straight ball when the number of balls was full. This half of the game expanded to an 8:1 lead, and Otani scored 6 RBIs.
Matsuzaka described Otani’s first hit as surprising. It is quite rare that such a low ball can hit the center field so far.
Another commentator, Atsuya Furuta, added: “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
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