"Just thinking about facing Clayton Kershaw makes me happy" - When pre-MLB Shohei Ohtani expressed desire to face off with Dodgers ace & Bryce Harper

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was an enigma before he got his start in Major League baseball. The two-way phenom was turning a ton of heads in the NPB in the early-to-mid 2010s.

After the 2017 season, the hard-throwing righty asked to be posted and start his career in the United States. After he was made available, seven teams tried their hand at signing Ohtani.

While he was yet to make his decision, 60 Minutes' Jon Wertheim traveled to Japan to sit down with the slugger. In it, Ohtani talked about just how excited he was to play in the MLB against some of the game's greatest players.

"I watch Bryce Harper [and] Clayton Kershaw.. Yeah, unlike me, Kershaw is a lefty.. I actually do see myself [in Kershaw and Harper] and I actually try throwing lefty sometimes," said Ohtani.

Ohtani revealed that he watched Clayton Kershaw and Bryce Harper on TV, two of the best at the time. The Japanese flamethrower would even try his luck at throwing lefty like Kershaw.

"Just thinking about facing [Kershaw] makes me really happy and excited . I could just tell he's such a good pitcher through the TV screen," said Ohtani.

He was then asked how he would pitch to Bryce Harper. Just like all aces do, he would try and take the slugger down with his bread-and-butter.

"I would have to go with my best pitch which is the fastball. I want to see how my best pitch fares against one of the best hitters" said Ohtani.

Shohei Ohtani unlikely to be ready to take the mound on Opening Day

Los Angeles Dodgers - Shohei Ohtani (Photo via IMAGN)

During the 2024 season, Shohei Ohtani did not make an appearance on the mound. He was used as the Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter for the entirety of the season.

He took the year off from pitching to recover from the elbow procedure he had done during the offseason in 2023. Ohtani was seen throwing bullpens throughout the year, but he likely will not be ready to take the mound for the season opener.

Ohtani suffered a partially torn rotator cuff during the World Series. Manager Dave Roberts does not want to rush him back and does not see him taking the ball in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs. However, he should be ready to go a little after the season kicks off.