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Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani heard boos from the Toronto Blue Jays faithful as he entered the batter’s box at Rogers Center to start Game 7 of the World Series Saturday night, but he ended up making history.
Ohtani struck out Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer to start the game, which quieted the crowd for a brief moment. He became the first World Series starting pitcher to record a hit in the top of Game 7.
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Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is safe at second on a ball hit by Will Smith against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning of Game 7 of the World Series of Baseball, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
The last time a pitcher recorded a hit at the start of a Game 7 of the World Series was in 1975, when Cincinnati Reds star Don Gullet and Boston Red Sox starter Bill Lee recorded hits.
If he gets a second hit, he will be the first starting pitcher ever to accomplish this feat.
Scherzer prepared and was able to settle in and drop Will Smith, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts after the single.
Ohtani managed to place third but failed to score.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning of Game 7 of the World Series of Baseball in Toronto, Saturday, November 1, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
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The Dodgers star was also on the mound on three days’ rest as Los Angeles hoped for a Hollywood ending despite a unique rule that could have prevented him from picking up the bat and taking the mound in the same game.
MLB instituted a rule that if a starting pitcher was in the batting lineup, he could continue to hit even if he was taken off the mound — a rule that allowed Ohtani to remain in the game after being removed from the starting job.
However, if Ohtani started the game as the team’s designated hitter and later entered in relief, they would risk losing his powerful bat in the lineup when he came out as a pitcher.
The only way Ohtani could stay in the game after being used as a relief pitcher would be to play the field, something he hasn’t done often during his career. The three-time MVP has only taken the field 8 1/3 innings in his career and hasn’t done so since 2021.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers greets his teammates in the bullpen before Game 7 of the World Series of Baseball against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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With all that in mind, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts started Ohtani on the mound, ensuring they can keep his bat in the game no matter how long he throws. It is not yet clear how involved Ohtani will be in the game.
