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3 months ago
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Shohei Ohtani marked his Angels reunion with an absolute bomb on Friday night as the Dodgers star hit a home run against his old team.
Ohtani spent the first six years of his MLB career with the Angels before signing a massive 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers this offseason.
And in his first meeting with his former team, the two-time MVP blasted a 455-foot, two-run home run to center field to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.
He appeared to respectfully wave to his old teammates as he rounded the bases.
It's the Japanese slugger's fifth homer in his last six games, for 22 total already this season.
Shohei Ohtani marked his first meeting against his former team the Angels with a 455-foot HR
Ohtani's homer was his fifth in six games and his 22nd this year in a stellar season at the plate
The 29-year-old has been hugely impressive for his new ballclub, as he was batting .318 with a league-high 1.006 OPS heading into Friday night's matchup.
However, the two-way star hasn't even showcased one side of his game for the Dodgers yet, as his Tommy John surgery last offseason means he won't pitch again until 2025.
He provided a positive update on his elbow recovery last month as he told reporters he'd starting throwing from 60 feet (the normal length from the mound to home plate), and reached 80 mph.
Ohtani appeared to wave at his old teammates as he rounded the bases following his homer
'Just progressively increasing the distance,' Ohtani said through an interpreter, via ESPN.
'Usually anywhere from 60-70 pitches, in that distance. Just continuing to increase the distance and the pitches, and just seeing where that goes. I'm not quite sure how far I'm going to go out there, but that's the progression.'
Since debuting in MLB in 2018, Ohtani has also excelled as a pitcher, registering a 3.01 ERA.
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