The Japanese superstar rookie Shohei Ohtani has now also made his debut as a hitter. In the game of his Los Angeles Angels at the San Diego Padres (10:4 Padres) he was even perfect on the record.
Just a few days after his changeful debut as a pitcher, Ohtani started as a Designated Hitter as planned and could not be identified. After two walks in the beginning, the Japanese player managed to win an RBI single in the fifth inning, by Eric Young Jr. the first run of the Angels in the game.
Afterwards Ohtani had to quit and he was replaced by Pinch-Runner Jack Kruger.
“I could see a lot of pitches and that was really good”, Ohtani said after his debut on the record:”I just want it to go on like this. I can see the ball pretty well right now. I hope I can have even better at-bats. I think that applies to almost all players, but my hitting is always better than my pitching at this time of the year. It’s like every other year.”
The Angels are in the process of developing a plan of how best to allow Ohtani to come through the season as both a hitter and a starting pitcher while being productive. Manager Mike Scioscia stated that Ohtani could start again as DH on Tuesday.
As for his next start on the Mound, Friday is planned. The Angels will have two games that day, one against the Cubs, one against Minor Leaguers. One of the two games will be played by Ohtani.
Ohtani, however, beat second in the Batting Order, which Scioscia justified by the fact that the jumping training started relatively early this year. Established stars such as Mike Trout, Albert Pujols or Justin Upton have not yet played.
This article was published without prior view by the Major League Baseball.