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The LA Dodgers on Tuesday posted a short video clip of Shohei Ohtani enacting his compatriot Hideo Nomo's iconic windup in front of the cameras. The three-time MVP is set to become one of the latest additions to the illustrious line of Japanese pitchers to take the mound for the Dodgers, with Nomo being the pioneer.
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The footage uploaded on X showed Ohtani raising both his hands straight above his head in the distinct manner that Nomo used to. Ohtani then pulled his hands and body behind his standing foot, with the leg kick also going in the backward direction to mimic the unique windup of Nomo.
Hideo Nomo was the first Japanese-born player to relocate permanently to the MLB. He enjoyed a phenomenal start to his major league career upon his major league debut with the Dodgers in 1995. He became just the fourth debutant to start an All-Star Game, and later bagged the National League Rookie of the Year award, besides finishing in fourth spot in the Cy Young race.
Shohei Ohtani set to join Hideo Nomo in legendary line of Dodgers pitchers from Japan
Shohei Ohtani delivered a phenomenal first season with the bat after signing a record-breaking deal with the Dodgers. He registered the first 50-50 season in the history of the MLB. However, Ohtani has not yet taken up pitching duties for the Dodgers since he has been recuperating from an elbow reconstruction surgery that he underwent towards the end of the 2023 season.
Thus far, eight pitchers from Japan have appeared on the mound in the big leagues wearing a Dodgers uniform. Hideo Nomo was the first one to do so, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the latest, The list includes Yu Darvish and Kenta Maeda. The Dodgers have also signed Roki Sasaki during this offseason, and he will make his pitching debut before Shohei Ohtani does.
Ohtani has reportedly started throwing off a mound on Tuesday and is expected to make his first start for the Dodgers around mid-May.
