It was just another Sunday for everyone in Queens, but for the Los Angeles Dodgers fans, this was the moment they had been waiting for two years. To watch their two-way phenom, Shohei Ohtani, finally get started on really being himself. And there he was at Citi Field, stepping into action, throwing pitches not just to the net or the silence of a bullpen but to actual batters.

Ohtani, after his second Tommy John surgery, was once again beginning to piece together the other half of his game. And this was not just any live batting practice. Dave Roberts, the Dodgers manager himself, agreed that it was “the most important live BP in the history of baseball.” For sure, a bold statement, but when it comes to Ohtani, hyperbole feels like an understatement.

Now, after a six-pitch warmup, Ohtani delivered 22 pitches to three different batters. Hyeseong Kim and Dalton Rushing were first. But then came an unusual sight—Dodgers game-planning coach J.T. Watkins stepped into the box. Not because of any injury or fun, but because Ohtani had one very specific request—he didn’t want to face a right-handed hitter.

So Watkins, a coach and not a player, volunteered for this. Later, Roberts cleared the air on Ohtani’s fear, saying, “He didn’t want to face any of our right-handed hitters…. JT and Sho have a great relationship, so JT offered. And Sho was more than happy to oblige.” Watkins managed well, notched a walk and a strikeout, and even delivered a celebratory bat flip after taking four balls.

Beyond the laughs and jokes, the fact is that Ohtani was electric. His fastball sat at 94-95 mph, even touching 97 mph. From four seamers, cutters, sweepers, and his signature splitter, he looked like a reflection of his old self. Roberts wasn’t surprised, saying, “It was a big jump today. From bullpens to facing hitters—it’s a different world. But not surprising. That competitive fire doesn’t leave. You still want to get guys out.”

However, Roberts did say that he had gotten so used to seeing Ohtani as a hitter that to see him back on the mound was different, but nonetheless, it was ‘exciting,’ he claimed. Even the rest of the clubhouses seem excited about this live BP, like Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. He acknowledged Ohtani and said that he would love to watch him pitch in real games soon. But while most in the baseball world are thrilled right now, pitching coach Mark Prior has confirmed that the next steps of Ohtani’s comeback will be determined by how he recovers after this game.

Shohei Ohtani’s blast turned heads, but the day belonged to the Mets

Now, if Sunday morning gave fans a glimpse into Ohtani’s future as a pitcher, Sunday afternoon reminded everyone why he is still one of the most dangerous hitters on the planet. His leadoff homer was head-turning at the New York Mets and Dodgers game. But sadly, the day belonged to the Mets. And there was another Japanese star in the spotlight- Kodai Senga!

Senga, after giving up a solo shot to his superstar countryman, didn’t panic. He held it down, going 5.1 innings after giving up just five hits and striking out five. Senga walked off the mound with his fifth win of the season and was all smiles when he was asked how he felt facing Ohtani. He did say, though, “It’s not fun,” and, well, can you blame him? Facing one of the best hitters in baseball surely is no piece of cake!

But the Mets as a whole played good baseball. Pete Alonso launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to flip that lead. And since then, they only marched forward. It all finally added up to a 3-1 win over the Dodgers at Citi Field. And with this series win, the Mets did more than just snap the Dodgers’ three-series streak. They made a huge statement! This team has been struggling with injuries and setbacks, but with a league-best 2.81 ERA and Senga as the leading ace, they are looking like serious contenders.

Well, for both the Japanese superstars, Sunday was quite productive! Maybe a little better for the Mets, though. What do you think?