MLB airbrushes Padres' success against Ohtani in misleading highlight package

Shohei Ohtani made his long-anticipated return to the mound last night against the San Diego Padres, and predictably, Major League Baseball rolled out the red carpet. Within minutes, the league’s social feeds were buzzing with a carefully curated highlight reel. Clips of high velocity heaters, sharp breaking balls, and a triumphant return with the camera work of a blockbuster film. But there was a catch — what the highlights left out was just as important as what they had shown.

Yes, Ohtani’s fastball velocity touched an eye-popping 100.2 mph, and yes, he generated some weak contact. But here’s what the highlight reel left on the cutting room floor. Ohtani didn’t strike out a single batter. He gave up two hits, allowed a run, and needed 28 pitches to escape the inning. It was far from dominant. And more importantly — it glossed over the Padres' role entirely.

The Ohtani highlight reel left out the Padres' part in the story

Fernando Tatis Jr. opened the game with a clean single into right field, setting the tone. He advanced to second on a wild pitch — again, something you'd never guess from the “comeback montage” — and scored on a Manny Machado sacrifice fly. It was really solid execution from San Diego, the kind of fundamental offense that chips away at even the biggest stars. But you wouldn’t know it from watching MLB’s edit.

Let’s be transparent, this isn’t a hit piece on Ohtani. He’s one of the most electrifying athletes in sports and remains a box-office draw every time he steps on the field. A two-way phenom returning to the mound for the first time since 2023? Of course that deserves attention. Of course the league is going to spotlight its $700 million man. But there’s a difference between promotion and revision.

By packaging Ohtani’s return as a highlight of pure dominance, MLB ignored the real story. A rusty pitcher grinding through a tough inning against a lineup that came to compete. The Padres didn’t roll over — they made contact, forced him into high pitch counts, and scratched across a run before his exit. Some could say they even chased Ohtani out of the game after one inning. That’s not nitpicking — it’s just telling the truth.