Shohei Ohtani has been nothing short of amazing in his first 11 days as a big leaguer. The two-way prodigy’s latest showstopping performance came Sunday against the Athletics, striking out 12 in seven innings.
Shohei Ohtani continues an absurd start to his major league career
Two-way star took a perfect game into the 7th inning on Sunday, in his second major league start on the mound.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The right-hander had a perfect game until Marcus Semien broke it up with a clean single with one out in the seventh inning. Ohtani also walked a batter in the inning but struck out Matt Olson to end the scoring threat.
Dating back to his first start, last Sunday against the A’s, Ohtani retired 27 batters in a row.
Ohtani has appeared in six of the Angels’ 10 games, and his impact has been undeniable, whether on the mound or at the plate.
- Mar. 29 vs. A’s: Went 1-for-5 on opening day, but singled in his first major league at-bat against Kendall Graveman.
- Apr. 1 vs. A’s: Struck out six in his first major league pitching appearance, allowing three runs (all on a three-run home run) in six innings for his first major league win.
- Apr. 3 vs. Indians: In his first at-bat at home in Anaheim, Ohtani took Josh Tomlin deep for a three-run home run. He went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.
- Apr. 4 vs. Indians: Ohtani homered again, this time against reigning Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, one of two hits for Ohtani on the day.
- Apr. 6 vs. A’s: Ohtani homered again, a bomb that traveled 449 feet.
- Sunday: 12 strikeouts in seven scoreless innings against the A’s.
The true two-way nature of Ohtani’s gifts have him doing things the sport hasn’t seen in 90 years. He was the first player to earn a win and then hit a home run as a non-pitcher in his next game since Babe Ruth in 1921.
Ohtani is the first American League player to hit a home run in three straight games in the same season he started a game as a pitcher since Ruth, who did it last in 1930, per STATS LLC.
Then there is this, more obscure Ohtani comp:
Gotta love a good “Grunting Jim” reference.
Sure these are ridiculously small sample sizes — two starts pitching, and 19 plate appearances batting — but Ohtani’s major league numbers are sublime: a 2.08 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 13 innings, while hitting .389/.421/.889.
This is such a joy to watch. Ohtani is a must-see player in baseball, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
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