[Shohei Ohtani] Utilizing a Diverse Repertoire of Pitches, He’s on Track for a Dream 20 Wins… “Unstoppable with His ‘Reverse C-Shape’ Pitching Form”

Ohtani completely dispels any doubts and shows his dynamism!

A 0.74 ERA over 10 games—

Although he is one inning short of the qualifying innings threshold, these are undoubtedly impressive numbers. These are the pitching stats for the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (31) this season (as of June 9, Japan time). Takashi Kawamura, a motion analysis expert and professor at the University of Tsukuba, shares his insights.

“Last season, which marked his first appearance on the mound following right elbow surgery (Tommy John surgery) in September 2023, he gave the impression of pitching cautiously. This season, it seems he has completely put those concerns behind him. With a dynamic pitching form, he’s able to utilize a wider variety of pitches than before.”

Comparing his pitching during his time with the Angels in ’23 (bottom) to this season (top), Ohtani’s evolution is plain to see. Let’s hear Professor Kawamura’s analysis.

① This season’s “unrivaled” form (top), pitching during his time with the Angels (’23) (bottom)

“Comparing the two images in ①, in the bottom image, the right leg is slightly bent, and the left knee is farther from the logo on his chest. In the top image, the right leg is extended straight toward the ground. Furthermore, by raising the left knee closer to the logo, he’s gained greater stability.”

②

For ②, please look at the position of the shoulders.

“In the lower image, the line connecting both shoulders is almost parallel to the ground, but in the upper image, the right shoulder is lowered. By deliberately creating an ‘angle’ between the shoulders, he uses his body’s momentum to make it easier to swing his right arm upward.Another point to note is the left foot. Previously, he would drive off the ground all at once with the entire sole of his left foot, but this season, he’s taking his time, planting his foot from heel to toe. By creating this “pause,” he makes it harder for the batter to time his swing.”

Distinctive “reverse C-shape”

③

④

The defining feature in ③ is the “reverse C-shape.”

“In the lower part of the motion, he’s twisting his upper body significantly to the side. Since he was using a lot of pitches that curve sideways—like sweepers—back then, this was probably a logical way to throw. This season, he’s utilizing the tilt of both shoulders explained in ② and moving his arm significantly in a vertical motion.The fact that his body is flexing into a “reverse C-shape”—from his right hand through his back to his buttocks—is proof that his surgically repaired right elbow has fully healed.
Look at his right foot. Normally, as shown below, a pitcher keeps his toes on the mound to maintain balance. However, in the top image, his right foot is off the ground. He likely prioritized a dynamic motion that utilizes the tilt of both shoulders. If he kept his toes on the mound, his right foot would drag against the ground, which could put the brakes on his movement.“With the release shown in ④, he can swing his arm downward to impart an angle to the ball, making it effective even for pitches with vertical movement, such as the split-finger fastball.”

⑤

Both ⑤ and ④ exude dynamism. In the lower image, the hips are shifting slightly sideways toward first base, while in the upper image, there’s an impression of the body rising vertically.

“There are no cause for concern regarding Ohtani this season. He’s mastering at least seven different pitches, including the curveball, slider, and cutter. He’s in a league of his own. While there is the challenge of whether he can meet the innings requirement as a two-way player, I believe he can maintain an ERA in the 0.00s or low 1.00s. I don’t think the dream of 20 wins is impossible either.”

Calls are already growing louder to name Ohtani the top contender for the Cy Young Award.

*FRIDAY*, June 26 & July 3, 2026 Combined Issue