Shohei Ohtani was in the midst of his second MVP season when he took the mound against the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 23, 2023.
Twenty five pitches deep into his start, he tossed a fastball that dipped three miles per hour below average, prompting a visit from manager Phil Nevin and his then-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.
It was the final pitch he threw in an Angels uniform.
Then free agency came. Arguably the most sought after free agent in history was up for grabs and the sweepstakes began. Even with a UCL injury costing him at least a year on the mound, teams went into a frenzy.
In the end, the Dodgers got the last laugh.
The Dodgers knew that Ohtani would only resort to hitting for the 2024 season, and it resulted in him recording the first 50-50 season in baseball history, ending with