Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani returned from the injured list on September 23 (September 24 in Japan) after recovering from right biceps inflammation, starting as the No. 2 hitter and DH in a home game against the Padres. In his first at-bat back, in the top of the first inning, he lined a single to right, drawing a huge ovation from the home crowd. On 5ch forum threads, plenty of posts genuinely celebrated his return, but sarcastic reactions also stood out — comments like “the team’s flow gets worse whenever Ohtani’s back” or “the mood got tense” — creating a real gap between the welcoming atmosphere and the cooler, more cynical takes.
He’s back! Shohei Ohtani gets a hit right out of the gate in his first at-bat since returning! Answers the roaring crowd with a single to right
◇NL: Dodgers vs. Padres (September 23, 2026, Los Angeles)
Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani, 32, returned on the 23rd (the 24th in Japan) from right biceps inflammation and started as the No. 2 hitter and DH in a home game against the Padres. In his first at-bat back, in the first inning, he lined a clean single to right, producing a sharp crack of the bat right away.
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
Even though he's 2nd in OPS?
The superstar has returned!
Here we go again with the "Ohtani harassment" (5ch slang mocking the media's nonstop overhype every time he returns).
Even the manager looks kind of irritated, or is it just me lol
The moment Ohtani's back, even Yamamoto looks irritated.
Especially on offense.
Nothing but grounders lately.
It's like at a company — taking off a month in the middle of a project without asking,
then strolling back in saying "I'm baaack" after the project's wrapped and even the after-party's over. Idiotic.
every network led their midday news with it.
Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki all lined up for the win together would feel amazing.
Treating everything like idol worship is exactly why sports never truly take root in this country.
You clearly haven't been watching.
They moved him to leadoff because he kept getting intentionally walked.
And so the days of tiptoeing around him begin again!
a clean hit off Robbie Ray.
Off that "one-armed" Robbie Ray? (a jab at his injury-plagued arm) That's impressive.
Background and Talking Points
Ohtani landed on the IL (injured list) around the end of August with right biceps inflammation and had been rehabbing ever since. Japanese domestic media give heavy coverage to every one of his returns and appearances, and the term “Ohtani harassment” used in the thread isn’t really a criticism of Ohtani himself — it’s a standard 5ch joke poking fun at how overheated the coverage gets every time he comes back. Meanwhile, the comments about his batting average or career hit total reflect individual posters’ impressions, and as of this writing they haven’t been verified against official statistics. It’s also worth noting that reactions along the lines of “the team’s flow gets worse when Ohtani returns” are based on the outcome of a single game right after his comeback — actual wins, losses, and team form are a more complicated matter involving many other factors.
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geisports Sokuhou+) thread “[MLB] He’s back! Shohei Ohtani gets a hit right out of the gate in his first at-bat since returning! Answers the roaring crowd with a single to right.”
