Dodgers' Ohtani Dominates in Season Opener, Leaving Pedro Martinez Puzzled

Legendary pitcher Pedro Martinez questions whether Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is powered by AI after his dominant season debut.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:49am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting Shohei Ohtani's pitching motion and batting stance broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in vibrant blues, reds, and hints of a baseball diamond in the background, conceptually representing the multi-dimensional talent of this MLB superstar.Ohtani's unparalleled skills as both a power hitter and dominant pitcher continue to defy expectations and leave even baseball legends in awe.Los Angeles Today

In his first start of the 2026 MLB season, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani delivered a dominant performance, striking out six batters over six scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians. Ohtani's brilliance on the mound left Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez in awe, with the three-time Cy Young Award winner speculating that the two-time reigning National League MVP may have been "made by AI" due to his exceptional command and repertoire of pitches so early in the season.

Why it matters

Ohtani's ability to excel as both a full-time hitter and starting pitcher is unprecedented in modern baseball, and his continued dominance on the mound has left even the game's greatest pitchers like Martinez questioning the source of his unparalleled skills. This early-season display further cements Ohtani's status as one of the most talented and unique players in MLB history.

The details

In Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Guardians, Ohtani allowed just one hit - a fourth-inning double by Rhys Hoskins - while walking three batters. Despite some control issues in the third inning, Ohtani confounded Cleveland's lineup with his devastating breaking balls that were extremely difficult to read until they reached the catcher's glove. Martinez, who was a three-time Cy Young Award winner himself, was left in awe of Ohtani's performance, stating: "I think Shohei was made by AI. Really, Shohei is just amazing. How can you get the feel for pitching so early in the season and use that variety of pitches effectively all night against a pretty good team?"

  • Ohtani made his first start of the 2026 MLB regular season on March 31.
  • The Dodgers defeated the Guardians by a score of 4-1 in that game.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

A two-time reigning National League MVP and one of the most talented and versatile players in MLB history, Ohtani is the Los Angeles Dodgers' star pitcher and designated hitter.

Pedro Martinez

A Hall of Fame pitcher and three-time Cy Young Award winner, Martinez is considered one of the greatest right-handed pitchers of all time.

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What they’re saying

“I think Shohei was made by AI. Really, Shohei is just amazing. How can you get the feel for pitching so early in the season and use that variety of pitches effectively all night against a pretty good team?”

— Pedro Martinez, Hall of Fame Pitcher

What’s next

Ohtani will look to build on his dominant season debut as the Dodgers continue their early-season schedule. The two-time MVP is widely expected to be in contention for the Cy Young Award again in 2026 if he can maintain his elite pitching performance throughout the year.

The takeaway

Shohei Ohtani's unparalleled skills as both a power hitter and dominant starting pitcher continue to defy expectations and leave even the game's all-time greats like Pedro Martinez in awe. Ohtani's ability to excel at the highest level in multiple facets of the game has cemented his status as one of the most unique and talented players in MLB history.