Getty Image / Harry How
Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani is doing something not done at the MLB level on any scale in over 100 years, and never at the level he is doing it. The two-way superstar is dominating both on the mound and at the plate this season.
And, he continued that incredible season in Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox, when he played one of the best games of his career.
It was one of the occasions where the 28-year-old was scheduled to pitch, as well as hit. And, he put on a show. After striking out two hitters in the top of the first, Shohei Ohtani did this in the bottom half. Turn your sound on an listen to the sound this ball makes when it hits his bat. It’s incredible.
Shohei Ohtani: Starting pitcher and MLB home run leader! #PitchersWhoRake pic.twitter.com/IBs5TIezby
— MLB (@MLB) June 28, 2023
Meanwhile, he dominated on the mound, going 6 2/3 innings, allowing just one run and four hits, and striking out ten with nasty pitches like this.
Shohei Ohtani, Nasty 90mph Cutter. 😨
And is impressed that Wallach caught the foul tip.
"Did you catch that? Whoa." 😀 pic.twitter.com/XPPgBGWmet
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 28, 2023
And, he wasn’t done at the plate, either. He homered again, giving him a league-leading 28 on the season before the calendar turns to June.
SHOHEI OHTANI IS THE GREATEST ATHLETE ON PLANET EARTH!!
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) June 28, 2023
It’s the first time since 1963 an American League player struck out 10 and hit two home runs in the same game.
He’s the clear MVP favorite. After Tuesday, his OPS is closing in on 1.100 and his ERA is just slightly above 3, with 127 strikeouts in 95 innings. He’s first in home runs and third in strikeouts. Read that again. It’s more impressive the second time.
It seems like there is nothing Shohei Ohtani, who will be a free agent following the season, can’t do. He is almost surely going to get the biggest contract in baseball history this offseason.