Shohei Ohtani wasted no time making his presence felt in his MLB playoff debut. The Dodgers found themselves in an early 3-0 deficit after Manny Machado’s three-run homer, but Ohtani turned the momentum with a massive three-run blast in the second inning. The home run, measured at 111.8 mph, tied the game 3-3 and sent Dodger Stadium into a frenzy as the crowd witnessed Ohtani’s first-ever postseason hit in his debut game. The energy soared even higher when Ohtani celebrated with a massive bat flip, energizing his teammates and fans alike.
Shohei Ohtani's first #postseason home run from ALL the angles 😮💨 #NLDS pic.twitter.com/j7XP1vAwmb
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2024
Ohtani’s blast wasn’t just a highlight moment but a turning point for the Dodgers, who battled back after briefly losing the lead again in the third inning following Xander Bogaerts’ two-run double. Teoscar Hernández came through in the clutch, delivering a two-run single in the fifth inning to give the Dodgers a 6-5 lead, which they held on to for the remainder of the game.
Despite a brief scare earlier in the at-bat when Ohtani fouled a ball off his knee, the Japanese superstar showed resilience, staying in the moment and crushing the game-changing home run. His home run sparked a Dodger comeback and secured a 7-5 victory over the Padres in Game 1 of the NLDS.
Ohtani’s playoff debut follows a historic regular season where he posted an incredible 54 home runs, 59 stolen bases, and set a franchise-record 411 total bases. His offensive numbers included a .310 batting average, second-best in the National League, and an impressive 130 RBIs, making him the clear frontrunner for National League MVP honors.
While Ohtani’s Tommy John surgery earlier this year kept him off the mound and limited him to designated hitter duties, his bat has been the driving force behind the Dodgers’ offense. Although manager Dave Roberts hinted at the possibility of Ohtani returning to pitch in the postseason, general manager Brandon Gomes confirmed earlier this week that Ohtani will remain a hitter for the rest of the playoffs.
SHOHEI OHTANI TIES THE GAME!!! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/EkcONeweie
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2024
The Dodgers will look to ride Ohtani’s hot bat as they continue their postseason campaign, with hopes that his playoff magic can lead them deeper into October. With Game 1 in the books, Ohtani’s performance has already solidified his place as a postseason threat.
