If there was any doubt before, it should be gone by now.
Shohei Ohtani is a true two-way star in Major League Baseball – and he wasted no time proving it on Sunday night.
Ohtani, on a historic tour of the Los Angeles Angels, landed a 101 mph fastball in his opening inning against the Chicago White Sox in Anaheim. Then, later in that same inning, Ohtani punched a deep home run on the first shot on the board to get the Angels to win 1-0 almost instantly.
The ball, which came out of the batter at more than 115 mph, traveled more than 150 meters from the plate.
Ohtani’s night was historic before homer. The 26-year-old is the Angels’ first pitcher to hit a game while the designated hitter rule was at stake in the organization’s history, and only the third pitcher to do so in the Major League Baseball in the last 45 years. according to The Associated Press. He is also only the first pitcher to hit second in the lineup since 1903.
Although the season doesn’t even have a week – the opening day was Thursday – Ohtani’s home run was the most hit of the season. After throwing a 160 km / h fast ball in the first inning, he also holds the league record.
“He has a great career doing both, and he can have a really spectacular career, especially doing both,” said Angels coach Joe Maddon, before the game, via The Associated Press. “So you never want to get in the way of greatness.”
Ohtani leaves the game after injury at home plate
Ohtani was forced to leave the game in the fifth inning after being moved to the base of the board.
Ohtani, after a third lost streak overtook catcher Max Stassi, ran home to cover the plate while Stassi launched for the first. Leury Garcia scored for the White Sox in the process, and David Fletcher, Angels’ second baseman, then played for Ohtani to try to eliminate Jose Abreu – who was making his own move on the board.
Abreu, however, slipped on Ohtani, knocking him to the ground – where he was clearly in pain before leaving the field.
He was replaced by Steve Cishek. The extent of his injuries is not yet known.
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