Shohei Ohtani hilariously stares down a line of teammates after nearly getting hit by a line drive

Shohei Ohtani showed his quick reflexes during Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Openernarrowly avoiding teammate Hyesong Kim’s ferocious drive. a moment, caught on cameraOhtani jumped to the side as Kim’s shot flew past him, then gave him a mock serious look.

MVP reflexes from Shohei 😂 pic.twitter.com/FEmFkK9pV5

— MLB (@MLB) February 21, 2026

What’s more, the game quickly became one-sided as the Dodgers jumped out to a big early lead, scoring nine runs in the first two innings and beating the Los Angeles Angels 15-2 in their Cactus League opener at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Saturday.

Kim, competing for time at second base with Tommy Edman out, he made an early impact with a two-run single in the first inning and an RBI single in the second.

Ohtani, who was expected to strike out just three times as is typical for regulars at the start of spring training, got the job done by the top of the second inning before exiting. He led off with an infield single, scored a run and recorded the first and third outs in the extended second inning.

Meanwhile, Ohtani returned to the mound last year, but didn’t handle a full starter’s workload. He made 14 starts, posted a 2.87 ERA and struck out 62 batters while pitching just 47 innings. He could easily triple that total this season.

The 31-year-old will once again represent Team Japan at the World Baseball Classic. Manager Dave Roberts plans to manage his playing time carefully, keeping his health as the team’s top priority.

Before the start of the Dodgers’ spring training against the Angels, Roberts shared the plan for Ohtani. He will pitch Saturday, getting two to three at-bats before exiting, and sit Sunday to focus on a live pitching session.

The four-time MVP award winner enters his third season with the Dodgers after signing a historic 10-year, $700 million contract. He has consistently delivered elite performances, justifying a record deal.

Ohtani finished last season with a .282 batting average, a .392 on-base percentage and a .622 slugging percentage. He added 55 home runs, 102 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

His outstanding season earned him the National League Award in 2025. It was Ohtani’s fourth career MVP award.

As Ohtani enters another season with the Dodgers, expectations are high. All eyes will be on him to see if he can continue to produce at an elite level while staying healthy and fit for Team Japan in the WBC.