Shohei Ohtani has a fame game that’s almost too hard to beat. The baseball unicorn’s consistent flair for delivering amazing gameplay in better-than-perfect form ensures that. However, the two-way superstar did not earn the title of world’s best baseball player overnight.

The Los Angeles Angels drafted the slugger into MLB back in 2018. It took him exactly three years to reach the pinnacle of his MLB stardom. Oh, what a reach it was! Here’s a throwback to one of his best moments of 2021—the year that started it all.

2021: The year Shohei Ohtani proved that he’s here to make a statement

The book “Sho-Time: The Inside Story of Shohei Ohtani and the Greatest Baseball Season Ever Played” reveals that he struggled with his velocity back in 2020. All of that changed in the first inning of his starting game in 2021.

Shohei Ohtani showed up in the Angels Arena, surrounded by a small crowd of 12396 people. Most of them were wondering about his current form. He answered them all by throwing a 98.2 m/ph fastball that barely missed the bottom of the strike zone. And he didn’t stop there.

In that inning, the two-way phenom went on to throw three pitches above 100 m/ph or faster. It was a baffling feat, considering only 6.3% of the 909 aces that appeared in the majors that season were able to throw at such unusual velocity. The slugger was happy with his performance. However, he later dealt with this fantastic comeback with a calm and confident stance.

An emotional Ohtani reflecting on his in-game motions

As always, Ohtani did not let his perfect form fade him away from focusing on the future. “I’m glad I got this game under my belt,” the Japanese revealed through an interpreter. “It will lead to more confidence. . . . It’s just one game. I’m going to take it one game at a time.” It was surprising to hear that from a player who showed how deft he is at hitting in the same game.

Shohei Ohtani hit a ball at a record 115 m/ph, a feat that was achieved by only 4.9% out of 1049 hitters that season. It doesn’t need to be said that Ohtani was the only player to achieve that level of speed on both the hitting and pitching posts. And he did it all within a span of a few minutes into the first inning of the first start in 2021.

Read More: Moments After Receiving a Top Honor in 2021, Shohei Ohtani Predicted His MLB Future With Eerie Accuracy

Following the gigantic deal that he clinched this month, let’s hope that Shotime keeps bringing on similar performances in the diamonds of MLB for years to come!

Watch This Story: Unveiling The Top 5 Funniest MLB Moments Of The 2023 Season