LOS ANGELES, CA — Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who was recently posted by the Saitama Seibu Lions to explore Major League Baseball opportunities, has thrown down a bold gauntlet. Imai has openly stated that the Dodgers star he is most excited to face is his fellow countryman and two-way icon, Shohei Ohtani.
The revelation comes amid strong speculation linking Imai, who posted a stellar $1.92$ ERA in the NPB in 2025, to several major MLB clubs including the Yankees, Mets, and even the Dodgers’ rival, the San Francisco Giants.
The Ultimate Test: Fastball vs. Ohtani
Imai’s desire to face Ohtani is rooted in a highly competitive mindset and a genuine curiosity to test his elite fastball against the best hitter in the world.
- The Quote: Speaking in a recent Japanese interview, Imai revealed his ambition, saying: “I really want to see how much my fastball holds up against him—to test myself by throwing it to him.”
- The Pitching Profile: Imai, a right-hander, is known for a powerful fastball that regularly sits in the mid-90s and has topped out near 99 mph. His comments indicate he views a duel against Ohtani as the ultimate benchmark for validating his pitch arsenal in the United States.
- The Competitive Edge: Interestingly, Imai also used the opportunity to distance himself from joining the “superteam” in Los Angeles, which already features Japanese stars Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki. He stated that he would rather “take them down,” adding, “winning against a team like that and becoming a World Champion would be the most valuable thing in my life.”
Box Office Matchup
While the Dodgers are reportedly not pursuing Imai due to their already loaded starting rotation, his signing with an American League club or a National League rival like the Giants would set up an instant box-office matchup against the two-time World Series champion Dodgers.
The baseball world is now eagerly anticipating which MLB team Imai will choose, as his decision will guarantee a must-watch showdown with Shohei Ohtani next season.
