Shohei Ohtani strikes out 12 in latest amazing baseball feat
Two-way star took a perfect game into the 7th inning on Sunday, in his second major league start on the mound.
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.
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.
Since allowing a walk in the 4th inning LAST Sunday, Shohei Ohtani has retired the last 27 batters he has faced. pic.twitter.com/p0k1pMqU6G
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) April 8, 2018
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:
Shohei Ohtani today tries to become the first major leaguer with 2 wins and 3 HR in his team's first 10 games since Jim "Grunting Jim" Shaw for the 1919 Senators. Shaw hit 4 career HR. #Angels
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) April 8, 2018
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.