Los Angeles Angels: Shohei Ohtani’s struggles should not be alarming
The Los Angeles Angels made one of the biggest moves of a very slow offseason when they signed Japan’s two-way star Shohei Ohtani. However, Ohtani is off to a rough start this spring.
After signing one of the most intriguing international stars of the past decade, the Los Angeles Angels knew the talent they acquired in Shohei Ohtani. Over in Japan, Ohtani proved that he could not only pitch but hit too. He garnered the nickname “Japan’s Babe Ruth” because of his talent both hitting and pitching.
However, playing in Japan and America aren’t nearly the same. But Ohtani entered Spring Training with the Angels with many holding high expectations for the 23-year-old. Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia made it clear that the team planned to use Ohtani both as a starting pitcher and a DH throughout the season.
Now, two weeks into Spring Training, Ohtani has struggled both at the plate and on the mound. An adjustment period is apparently in the works for Ohtani.
But this hasn’t stopped people from questioning whether Ohtani can make it in MLB. Although, two weeks is far too early to make any judgments on how a player will turn out to be. Ohtani is not only getting adjusted to a new country and culture but a new league as well.
Let’s look a little bit further into Ohtani’s tough start to the spring both with the bat and from the mound. And also why his early struggles are no big deal.
On the mound
There’s no doubt that the Angels could use another top-of-the-line starter in their rotation. Signing Ohtani addressed that issue, so the Angels’ primary usage for him is pitching.
Since Spring Training began, Ohtani’s pitched in three games. His first one was a regular spring game against the Milwaukee Brewers, and the other two came in “B” games.
In his first outing of the spring, Ohtani pitched just 1.1 innings and allowed two runs (one earned), on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts. He allowed a solo home run in the second inning to Brewers’ outfielder Keon Broxton.
With not much work put in, it was tough to gauge anything from that one start. Ohtani did display his impressive split-finger in that outing and showed that he does have good movement on his breaking pitches.
In his second outing of the Spring, Ohtani showed his strikeout ability in the “B” game. Of the 12 batters he faced, he struck out eight of them. However, he still allowed two runs.
Ohtani’s movement on his pitchers was on full display again, as displayed through a gif by Rob Friedman.
Shohei Ohtani, breaking ball (from today). 😳 pic.twitter.com/pTrmll2bDi
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 2, 2018
In Ohtani’s most recent “B” game outing, he struggled mightily. Ohtani faced a Mexican League team called the Tijuana Toros. The Toros roughed Ohtani up. They scored six runs off of him on five hits and a walk, in three innings of work. Ohtani did manage to get six batters to strikeout, though.
So, in seven innings of work, Ohtani’s allowed nine earned runs. That equates to an ERA of 11.57, which is not what the Angels want to see.
However, there are positives from his outings so far. He has movement on his pitches, and he is striking guys out. If Ohtani can start locating better, he’ll find more positive results. Adjusting and finding his rhythm might be all he needs.
Ohtani’s next scheduled start will be against the Colorado Rockies this Friday in a typical Spring Training game.
In the box
When Ohtani isn’t on the mound, he finds himself as the Angels’ DH. Although, his results on the offensive side have also started off sluggish.
In 18 Spring Training at-bats, Ohtani’s recorded just two hits (both singles). He’s hitting .111/.238/.111 in seven games. One-third of those at-bats have resulted in Ohtani striking out.
He’s yet to hit the ball with much power in his spring at-bats. Ohtani was well-known for his power hitting potential in Japan.
Much like on the mound, with time Ohtani’s bat should come around and produce more than we’ve seen so far. However, Yahoo! Sports MLB columnist Jeff Passan wrote about Ohtani from scouts perspectives and how they feel that Ohtani needs more work to hit MLB pitching.
Earlier this week, I heard from a scout who said Shohei Ohtani won’t hit. I checked with seven more who have seen him, and as much as they didn’t want to agree, they do. Column on the concern that Ohtani won’t be a two-way player and why: https://t.co/Ec1940Pk1l pic.twitter.com/DoZodHt1jF
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 10, 2018
But as Passan points out, with Ohtani pitching for the Angels, there’s no way that he gets the reps he needs to become a good MLB hitter, according to scouts.
So what does this mean for Ohtani? Does he fade out of the two-way player and just become a pitcher? Does he continue to hit but also continue to struggle with the bat?
This is something that might unfold in front of our eyes sooner rather than later. Time can only tell what Ohtani can achieve. It’s too early to determine how he’ll do throughout his career on the mound or in the box.
Next: Angels 2018 Team Preview
One thing’s for sure, with how little the Angels paid for Ohtani, no matter what happens, it seems like a win-win situation for them.