The Los Angeles Angels saw their two-way star take another step toward returning to the mound this season on Monday.
When Shohei Ohtani had his elbow bark in the middle of the season, the Los Angeles Angels shut down his pitching, using the star two-way player as a hitter only. With Monday’s full intensity simulation game, Ohtani took another step toward possibly pitching again in 2017.
Heralded for his incredible talents both at the plate and on the mound, Ohtani sought out a team that would allow him to do both when he signed last offseason out of Japan. The Los Angeles Angels gave him that opportunity, and they were rewarded early on.
Ohtani has continued hitting throughout the season for the Los Angeles Angels, and he’s been very good for not spending a single day in the minor leagues, with a .268/.348/.523 line, knocking out 15 doubles and 13 home runs. He’s also stolen 6 bases this season without being caught once, a tribute to how athletic he truly is.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
On the mound, he’s been absolutely as advertised. Ohtani went 4-1 for the Los Angeles Angels over 9 starts, tossing 49 1/3 innings, with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, posting a 20/61 BB/K ratio. Among all rookies who have thrown 40 innings or more, Ohtani ranked 4th in strikeout rate.
Ohtani has to rehab on Angels off-days as he is not allowed to go on a minor league rehab as that would require him to go on the disabled list. He’s allowing the plasma-rich platelet injections for his elbow time to heal while hitting.
He’s been working to add pitches and intensity bit by bit, and with the end of the season drawing near, he’s down to six weeks before he’s not making another major league pitch until 2019.
While seeing Ohtani on the mound would be great to see in 2018, knowing that he’s getting this close to hurling the sphere for the Los Angeles Angels is exciting for any fan of the game as Shohei Ohtani able to ply his trade both ways is exciting for the game of baseball!