2019 MLB Season: The Rise of the Two-Way Player

ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Shohei Ohhtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim bats during the first inning of the MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeatd the Athletics 5-4. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The 2019 MLB Season is bearing witness to the newest trend that is starting to point towards two-way players who can contribute on the mound and with a bat.

Baseball teams are always trying to gain a competitive advantage over each other to propel themselves to the World Series. Every year there always seems to be a new trend. The 2019 MLB season, it seems, is no different

Looking back at prior trends, you’ll find that in 2015 and 2016 the Royals/Indians “bullpenned” their way through the postseason. Soon after, the launch angle revolution took over with the advent of Statcast. Then, last season the Tampa Bay Rays defied pitching roles by using an Opener to start games.

These are trends we are all aware of and have seen over the course of the past few seasons. It would appear now that we are on the cusp of another revolution aimed at improving teams: The Two-Way Player.

Shohei Ohtani provided a blueprint for how someone could contribute at the dish and on the mound. Last season, Ohtani was a force at the plate, hitting .285/.361/.564 swatting 22 homers good for a 152 wRC+ at DH in his first season stateside.

Before the injury, Ohtani also threw 51 innings with a 3.31 ERA and struck out nearly 30% of batters faced. Many people wondered if Ohtani could both pitch and hit at the highest level of baseball and the results were pretty damn good.

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