SI

Shohei Ohtani Had One of the Coolest Plays of MLB Season After Being Caught in Rundown

Ohtani even makes mistakes look good.

Tim Capurso

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani runs toward first base with Justin Turner (No. 2) in pursuit during LA's 3-0 win over the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium on Monday, August 19, 2024.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani runs toward first base with Justin Turner (No. 2) in pursuit during LA's 3-0 win over the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium on Monday, August 19, 2024. / Screengrab Twitter @MLB
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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is so good at baseball that even his mistakes are impressive.

During the Dodgers' 3-0 win over the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium on Monday night, Ohtani found himself in a bit of a pickle after reaching first base on a single in the bottom of the first inning.

The Dodgers star, who ranks second in the majors in stolen bases, took off for second just as Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo delivered a pickoff throw to first base, leaving Ohtani caught in a rundown.

But Ohtani managed to get out of the rundown and slid safely back into first base after outrunning the ball and evading the tag by Mariners first baseman Justin Turner.

Nine times out of 10, Ohtani would have had no way out of the rundown, but the Mariners gave him a bit of an opening and, like the great ones do, he seized his chance. The Dodgers slugger finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk.

More on Ohtani: MLB Players With 40-Home Run, 40-Stolen Base Seasons As Shohei Ohtani Nears Mark

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Tim Capurso

TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.

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