It’s the moment baseball fans have waited years to witness — Shohei Ohtani, the two-way sensation who has redefined modern baseball, is finally pitching in the Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason.

For a player who’s been called “the greatest show on Earth,” this debut on the October mound has been a long time coming — precisely 2,746 days since he first stepped into the big leagues on March 29, 2018, with the Los Angeles Angels.

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Back then, the world of baseball looked very different. Bryce Harper was still with the Washington Nationals, Kyle Schwarber was smashing home runs at Wrigley Field, and the Philadelphia Phillies were still buried in a decade-long playoff drought.

Fast forward to now — October 2025 — and Ohtani is the face of baseball, a two-time MVP, a World Baseball Classic champion, and the most captivating athlete the game has seen in generations.

From myth to postseason reality

Ohtani’s postseason pitching debut comes in Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies — a matchup loaded with star power, storylines, and history.

Sure, Ohtani has already delivered countless unforgettable moments as a hitter:

• The first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
• The man who led the Dodgers to a World Series title over the New York Yankees as a designated hitter last year.
• The national hero who struck out Mike Trout to win the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for Japan’s national team.

But now, with the ball in his hand and October lights shining bright, Ohtani faces perhaps the biggest test of his career — delivering under the pressure of the MLB playoffs.

“Everything about Ohtani has been historic,” said one ESPN analyst. “But this moment — pitching in the postseason — might finally complete his legend.”

Dodgers’ gamble could pay off in gold

The Dodgers, who signed Ohtani to a record-breaking contract, have patiently waited for this moment. They’ve managed his innings, protected his arm, and balanced his dual role as a pitcher and hitter with surgical precision.

Manager Dave Roberts called Ohtani’s return to the mound “a championship-caliber risk.”

“He’s a once-in-a-lifetime player,” Roberts said before the series. “We’ve seen him dominate with the bat, and now we get to see him dominate with the ball in his hand — when it matters most.”

Ohtani’s presence on the mound gives the Dodgers something they haven’t truly had in years: a postseason ace who also provides elite offensive production.

The Phillies, on the other hand, enter the series as one of baseball’s most confident squads — powered by Harper, Schwarber, and Trea Turner — a lineup that thrives on high-stakes chaos.

The stage is set for a baseball epic

Ohtani’s start isn’t just about one player — it’s about a sport evolving in real time. His ability to blur the lines between pitcher and slugger has changed how scouts, teams, and fans view what’s possible on a baseball diamond.

In Japan, his performance will likely stop time. Millions will tune in, just as they did during the WBC final when Ohtani and Trout faced off — a duel now immortalized in baseball history.

Former players like Ichiro Suzuki have praised Ohtani for carrying forward Japan’s baseball legacy into global superstardom. And fans across the United States see in him something rare — a reminder that greatness can still surprise us.

As one viral post on X (formerly Twitter) put it:

“Shohei Ohtani pitching in October feels like baseball’s reward for our patience.”

Can Ohtani decide the Dodgers-Phillies series?

It’s possible. Ohtani’s unique combination of power, precision, and poise could swing the entire series. The Phillies’ lineup has power, but few have ever faced a pitcher who can throw 100 mph fastballs one inning and then crush a 450-foot homer the next.

If he’s even close to his best, he could become the difference-maker between another Dodgers heartbreak and a return to World Series glory.

Win or lose, this moment feels bigger than baseball. For seven years, fans have watched Ohtani redefine what it means to be a player. Now, he finally gets the stage he deserves — the postseason mound.

And if history is any indication, Shohei Ohtani won’t just play the game. He’ll transform it.