The Japanese star was making his first appearance on the mound since August 9th, when he sat out his previous start due to arm strain.

With one out and a runner on base in the bottom of the second inning, Ohtani threw a 94.2 mph (151.6 Km/h) fastball to Cincinnati’s Christian Encarnacion-Strand and signaled to the dugout.

Ohtani left the field after a visit from manager Phil Nevin.

Ohtani’s fastball averaged 93.1 mph, down from 96.9 mph in the regular season.

Before walking Spencer Steer to start the second inning, he dismissed the first three batters he faced in the first.

After launching a two-run homer in his first at-bat against Reds lefty Andrew Abbott, Ohtani appeared to be in good shape. The 46 home runs he Һit in his MVP season in 2021 are now just two away from being his career high.

Rookie Nolan Schanuel came in to pinch Һit for Ohtani after he departed the mound in the third inning.

Since Bаbe Ruth more than a century ago, the 29-year-old has been the top batter and pitcher in Major League Baseball on a consistent basis.

He deserves another American League MVP award to go with the one he won in 2021.

The Angels, hoping to make a playoff run, stated that they will be keeping Ohtani through the final months of his contract, despite him being a potential trade target at the trading deadline.

Since 2014, the Angels have gone without making the MLB postseason, and since 2009, they have failed to win a postseason series.