Shohei Ohtani's High School Alumna Throws First Pitch at Dodgers Game

Yuuri Teramoto, a first-year student at Hanamaki Higashi High School, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Los Angeles Dodgers' series finale against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. Hanamaki Higashi High School is the alma mater of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.

Teramoto, who plays on her school's girls baseball team, was among 50 high school students from Iwate prefecture chosen to visit the United States as part of a cultural exchange program. The visit marks the 150th anniversary of Iwate's founding and the 15th anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

The first pitch was caught by Iwate native Roki Sasaki, a pitcher who lost his father in the 2011 tsunami. Teramoto, originally from Kumamoto, stated that Ohtani's influence played a part in her decision to attend high school in Iwate.

"He's someone I admire," Teramoto said through a translator. "My dream in the future is to go to the United States."

Hanamaki Higashi High School also counts Los Angeles Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi and Miami Marlins prospect Rintaro Sasaki among its alumni. Teramoto mentioned that her team utilizes a pitching machine that was donated by Ohtani.

"We used the machine every day and we’re very grateful," she said.

Shohei Ohtani himself was recently ruled out from pitching for the remainder of the current season due to injury.