Los Angeles Angels: Shohei Ohtani a natural fit at Little League World Series

The MLB Little League Classic is taking place Sunday night and to most fans, a matchup between the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels isn’t exactly appointment television. That all changes considering Shohei Ohtani is taking part.

Ohtani is not pitching, but is in the lineup and should command the most attention from everyone in Williamsport and at home. Just look at the way the kids reacted to his arrival.

Ohtani is a true Little League player

The fact Ohtani is playing in this game is so fitting because he truly is a Little League player. He is the best player on the team, thus he pitches and hits. That two-way style usually disappears once someone reaches the professional game. But he is just too good to keep off the mound or out of the lineup.

He is rocking a 7.9 WAR on the season and that number could go up to 10.0 if he keeps dominating at the plate and on the mound. Unfortunately, like some Little League stars, his play is not enough to lift the Angels to greatness all alone.

But Sunday should still be a fun showcase, regardless of the records or the final outcome. MLB was wise to put the Angels in this game because of Ohtani, even if him pitching didn’t line up properly.

The Little League players in attendance will get to see Ohtani up close and can go on dreaming about being like him one day. That is a tall task, but future stars are all young at one point. And Ohtani being a two-way player could mean we see more in the future once coaches lose fear of using such a strategy.