“Of Course He Does”: Ohtani Blasts 117.7 mph Leadoff HR to Ignite Dodgers in Game 1

 

LOS ANGELES — It was vintage Shohei Ohtani on Tuesday night. The two-way marvel didn’t waste a second proving that his postseason pedigree is still very much alive. Leading off Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Cincinnati Reds, Ohtani crushed a 117.7 mph laser off Hunter Greene for a leadoff home run — reminding fans why no one should ever bet against him. MLB.com

⚡ The Blast That Set the Tone

• The homer rang in at 117.7 mph off the bat, making it the fourth-hardest-hit postseason home run since Statcast tracking began in 2015. MLB.com

• Interestingly, Ohtani came close to owning more of those upper-echelon marks: in 2024 he had a 117.8 mph blast. MLB.com

• He made a statement immediately — no warmups, no jitters, just a missile to right field. MLB.com

It wasn’t just symbolic fireworks, either. That swing changed the momentum in an instant. With Ohtani jumping on the Reds’ starter, the Dodgers sent an unmistakable message: they’re not going to sit back and let Cincinnati breathe.

🔥 Supporting Firepower

After Ohtani’s bomb, L.A. didn’t let up. Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman followed with back-to-back homers in the third inning. By then, Blake Snell had settled in on the mound, and the Dodgers looked in full control. Los Angeles Times

The rally wasn’t just flashy — it was backed by substance. With timing, execution, and clutch hits, L.A. painted a picture of a team ready to punch deep into October.

🧩 What It All Means

This moment isn’t just another highlight reel for Ohtani — it’s emblematic of how dangerous he makes this Dodgers squad. He’s a matchup nightmare for any pitcher, especially in high-leverage situations. That opening swing could very well echo across the rest of the series.

From a franchise perspective, this blast adds to Ohtani’s growing legacy in just his second season in L.A. He’s not simply chasing records — he’s carving out his own whenever he steps to the plate. MLB.com+1

The postseason is a different monster altogether, but if there's one thing we’ve learned about Ohtani and the Dodgers — they thrive on moments like these.