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Los Angeles Angels: Put Shohei Ohtani in bubble wrap until Opening Day

By David Hill

TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels smiles before the game against the Cleveland Indians during the MLB spring training baseball game at Tempe Diablo Stadium on March 16, 2021 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels smiles before the game against the Cleveland Indians during the MLB spring training baseball game at Tempe Diablo Stadium on March 16, 2021 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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It is easy to be optimistic about Shohei Ohtani at this point. He is once again looking like the two way star that the Los Angeles Angels hoped they were getting, hitting for power and showing the velocity and movement on his pitches that he had back in 2018.

Ohtani continued his impressive spring on Tuesday. He launched yet another home run, taking Shane Beiber deep to center over the batting eye. It was his fourth homer of the spring as he continued to show that he is fully healthy.

Los Angeles Angels should be careful with Shohei Ohtani

At this point, all the Angels really need to see is that Ohtani is healthy. He struggled in every facet of the game last year, recording just five outs on the mound before being shut down once again with injury. While he had performed well at the plate in previous years, he was equally lost in the batter’s box as 2020 was a completely lost year.

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There is plenty of optimism that 2021 will be different. For the first time since he has come stateside, Ohtani is crushing the ball in March. Even in his dominant rookie campaign, there were questions about his struggles during spring training as he was still an unknown when it came to the majors.

Right now, the Angels have two tasks before them. The first is to get Ohtani stretched out so that he can take his turn in the rotation. The second is to ensure that he stays healthy until Opening Day. That may necessitate taking him out of games earlier for the rest of the spring, but that should not be a concern.

If the Angels are going to return to the postseason, Ohtani will be a major factor. He is the closest thing they have to an actual ace in the rotation, even if his unique skillset does not allow him to be utilized in a traditional manner. Ohtani is also a key piece offensively, another power bat in the middle of the Angels’ lineup.

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Shohei Ohtani is finally healthy and ready to go. The Los Angeles Angels need to make sure that remains the case until Opening Day.

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