""I'm aware that there are pitchers who get excited and their velo goes up, and there's some it just stays pretty much the same," Ohtani said. "If I were to pick a side, I'm probably the one that really the velo goes up. But that being said, I need to make sure I'm poised and balanced. And it's just going to be how well I can compose myself out there as well.""
""I'm sure I'll be nervous at times," he conceded. "But more than that, I'm just really grateful that I get to play baseball at this time of the year. And just being healthy is really important to me, so I'm just grateful for that.""
Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to start Game 1 of the National League Division Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Ohtani has never pitched in the MLB postseason and missed postseason opportunities during six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and while rehabbing in his first Dodgers season. Ohtani expects extra adrenaline and acknowledges his fastball velocity (98.1 mph, 95th percentile) may spike, so he plans to focus on poise, balance, and composure. Ohtani also anticipates some nerves but expresses gratitude to be healthy and playing in front of roughly 43,000 fans.
Read at Dodger Blue
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