March 20, 2025, 08:35 AM PDT – Shohei Ohtani electrified the crowd at the Tokyo Dome on Wednesday night, launching a mammoth home run in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the second game of the 2025 Tokyo Series. The blast, measured at 447 feet with an exit velocity of 113.8 mph, sent Japanese fans into a frenzy—but it fell just shy of his career-longest homer, a 470-foot shot hit on June 8, 2021, with the Angels. After the game, Ohtani opened up about why he couldn’t quite reach that personal pinnacle, offering a candid glimpse into his mindset and the unique pressures of playing in his homeland.
A Near-Miss Milestone
The home run came in the fifth inning off Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, a towering shot to right-center that cleared the stands and landed in a concourse walkway. It was Ohtani’s first of the 2025 season and his second hit of the series, following a double in Tuesday’s opener. The Statcast data dazzled—113.8 mph off the bat, a 29-degree launch angle, and a hang time of 6.2 seconds—yet it landed 23 feet short of his personal record, set against the Kansas City Royals four years ago.
That 2021 blast, hit off Brady Singer, remains the gold standard of Ohtani’s power displays, a 470-foot moonshot at Angel Stadium that showcased his then-emerging two-way dominance. Wednesday’s effort, while jaw-dropping, left some wondering why the 30-year-old unicorn couldn’t push it further in front of an adoring home crowd of 55,000.
Ohtani’s Revealing Explanation
Speaking through interpreter Will Ireton after the game, Ohtani offered a mix of humility and insight. “I got all of it, but not all of it, if that makes sense,” he said with a slight smile. “The ball felt good off the bat, but I think I was a little too excited. Playing here, with everyone cheering, it’s hard not to press a bit. Maybe I swung too hard trying to give them something extra.”
The admission points to the emotional weight of the Tokyo Series, Ohtani’s first MLB regular-season games in Japan since signing his record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. As Japan’s biggest sports icon, the pressure to perform—especially in the hitter-friendly Tokyo Dome, where he slugged .681 during his NPB days with the Nippon-Ham Fighters—was palpable. “I wanted to hit it out of the stadium,” he added. “But I’ll take it—it’s a good start.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts corroborated Ohtani’s self-assessment. “You could see the adrenaline pumping,” Roberts told reporters. “He was swinging for the fences, and he almost got there. That’s Shohei—he’s always chasing greatness, especially here.”
The Tokyo Dome Factor
The venue itself played a role. The Tokyo Dome’s compact dimensions (329 feet down the lines, 400 to center) and enclosed roof often inflate home run totals, yet its artificial turf and air currents can sap distance on high flies. Ohtani’s 447-footer might have gone farther in an open-air park like Dodger Stadium, where his 2024 longest shot reached 459 feet against the Braves. Still, Wednesday’s homer was the night’s longest, outpacing teammate Freddie Freeman’s 412-foot shot in the third.
Cubs pitcher Hendricks tipped his cap. “I threw a sinker down and away, and he just golfed it,” he said. “That’s a 450-foot homer anywhere. The guy’s unreal.”
A Hero’s Welcome—and a Hot Start
The near-miss didn’t dampen the euphoria in Tokyo. Fans, many wearing Ohtani’s No. 17 Dodgers jersey, erupted as he rounded the bases, chanting “Sho-hei! Sho-hei!” in a scene reminiscent of his 2023 World Baseball Classic heroics at the same venue. His 2-for-8 series performance, including the homer and a stolen base, underscored his two-way legacy—though he’s not pitching in 2025 as he recovers from elbow surgery.
Ohtani’s revelation about pressing too hard resonated with fans on X. “He’s human after all—trying to impress us!” one posted. Another marveled, “447 feet and he thinks he mishit it? Insane standard.” The moment also quelled lingering controversy from Tuesday’s game, when a fan-interference call on his first-inning homer drew boos.
What’s Next?
With the Dodgers sweeping the Tokyo Series 2-0, Ohtani and company head back to the U.S. for their home opener against the Padres on March 27. The near-career-best shot signals he’s in midseason form, a boon for a team eyeing a World Series repeat after their 2024 title. “I’m feeling good,” Ohtani said. “It’s just the beginning.”
For now, Tokyo fans cherish the memory of a 447-foot gift from their hometown hero—even if it didn’t quite rewrite his record book. As Ohtani put it, “Next time, I’ll relax and let it fly.” If Wednesday was any indication, that next time could be one for the ages.
