Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is set to make his highly anticipated postseason debut as the team prepares for a matchup against the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series. Ohtani expressed his enthusiasm, saying, 'It's always been my childhood dream to be able to be in an important game.' He further emphasized the significance of this moment, noting that the excitement surrounding it surpasses any feelings he has experienced thus far.
The 30-year-old Ohtani previously spent the first six years of his career with the Los Angeles Angels, where he played alongside fellow superstar Mike Trout. Unfortunately, his tenure with the Angels was marred by injuries and a lack of consistent support, which ultimately hindered the team from making a postseason appearance. Following his recent move to the Dodgers, Ohtani signed a monumental 10-year contract valued at $700 million, marking a successful first season with the organization. During the regular season, Ohtani showcased his exceptional talent, finishing with a .310 batting average, a National League-leading 1.036 OPS, and impressive statistics including 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 38 doubles.
In addition to his offensive prowess, Ohtani made history by becoming the first player in MLB to achieve a 50-50 season, successfully stealing 59 bases while maintaining a perfect record in his last 36 attempts. His previous experience in high-pressure situations includes leading Japan to victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, but Ohtani anticipates that the MLB postseason environment will present a different kind of challenge. 'I do think that the postseason is going to be different from the World Baseball Classic, considering that we did have a week off,' he remarked as he prepared for his first at-bat. Ohtani will kick off his postseason journey against Padres starter Dylan Cease, who wrapped up the regular season with a 3.47 ERA and a 14-11 record in 33 starts. The first game of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 8:38 p.m. ET.