Pitcher Michael Lorenzen homers (again) after getting second chance on non-bunt foul ball

Shohei Ohtani has rightfully received a ton of fan fare for his exploits both on the mound and at the plate in his first year with the Angels. But perhaps the best-hitting pitcher going is reliever Michael Lorenzen of the Reds.

On Wednesday night in the sixth inning, Lorenzen pitched the top half of the inning, then batted for himself with two on and nobody out. On an 0-2 count Lorenzen squared to bunt, but the pitch was up and in and while Lorenzen did his best to get out of the way he still put the bat on the ball, which rolled foul.

Normally, a bunt with two strikes is an automatic strikeout. But home plate umpire Tony Randazzo ruled that Lorenzen sufficiently pulled his bat back in time, and called it a normal foul ball, not a bunt.

Allowed to continue, Lorenzen made the most of his at-bat, and on the very next pitch.

That Lorenzen was even allowed to hit was a testament to his skill at the plate. The 26-year-old has four home runs in only 24 plate appearances this season, and six home runs in 82 career PA. Sure it’s a small sample, but that’s a better home run percentage than Giancarlo Stanton, for instance.

There was some talk of Cincinnati using Lorenzen at times in the outfield this season, something he did while also pitching at Cal State Fullerton. But Lorenzen has seen just one inning in right field all year, and has been very effective on the mound for the Reds, posting a 3.25 ERA in 55 innings.

With all 15 of Ohtani’s home runs coming as designated hitter, Lorenzen’s four home runs this season are the most hit by a pitcher. Not bad for a reliever, or anybody for that matter with just 24 PA.