Shohei Ohtani reached 101.7 mph for the third time as a starter, marking the fastest pitch of his MLB career.

Shohei Ohtani once again reached an unprecedented achievement — including outdoing himself.

Despite the Dodgers losing 5-9 to the Royals in Kansas City, Ohtani threw a 101.7 mph four-seam fastball to Vinnie Pasquantino during his third start, inducing a double play. This pitch marked the fastest speed of Ohtani’s MLB career and established a Dodgers season record. In two innings pitched, he also threw three other pitches exceeding 100 mph, accounting for four of the Dodgers’ seven 100+ mph fastballs this season.

After allowing a single to Bobby Witt Jr. and walking Maikel Garcia, Ohtani escaped the inning with a double play using only fourteen pitches. The Dodgers then followed their plan to have him pitch the second inning — his longest outing since his 2023 Angels days.

Ohtani retired all three batters in order in the second inning, including striking out Jac Caglianone with a sinker for the game’s only strikeout, completing two scoreless innings. This was his first road appearance since July 27, 2023, against Detroit.

He threw a total of 27 pitches (20 strikes), just one pitch short of his season debut record of 28 pitches.

This two-way star’s fastball averaged 98.8 mph, and his slider induced four swings and misses on two occasions. At the plate, he struck out twice before leaving the game, finishing with 0 hits in 4 at-bats and 3 strikeouts.

Since joining the Dodgers, Ohtani has allowed only one run over three games and four innings, continuing his rehabilitation and adjustment at the major league level with his specific role yet to be determined.

Like his previous two starts, Ben Casparius relieved for four innings, giving up eight hits and six runs.

Freddie Freeman broke his prolonged slump with three hits, including a solo home run in the seventh inning that ended his career-long drought of 41 games without a homer.