Getty Image / Kenta Harada
There’s little debate that Los Angeles Angels pitcher and outfielder Shohei Ohtani is the best player in baseball. Not since Babe Ruth has there been a player this good at both pitching and hitting.
Ohtani came to the USA in 2018 but struggled with injuries his first few years. But, in 2021, his full talent was unleashed.
That year, he slugged .965 with 46 home runs, and pitched to a 3.1 ERA with 156 strikeouts in 130 innings en route to the MVP. His 2022 may have been even better, as he once again tore the cover off the ball by slugging .875 and hitting 34 home runs. It was Ohtani’s best pitching year ever, too, as he pitched to a 2.33 ERA and struck out 219 in 166 innings en route to an MVP runner-up finish and fourth place in the Cy Young voting.
Ohtani is a pending free agent after this season, and as long as he is healthy, he is sure to get an unbelievably large contract from someone.
But, for now, Ohtani is playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic. And, in their first game overnight Sunday, Ohtani showed he’s still got it.
Japan took on Australia in the Tokyo Dome, and the slugger came up to bat in the first inning with two men on. And, he hit a baseball very, very, far.
SHOHEI OHTANI 3-RUN HOMER!!!! 💥
📺: FS1 and the FOX Sports App pic.twitter.com/KBZ2QtMSVd
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 12, 2023
My goodness. He got all of that one. Here’s another angle.
Watching this Ohtani swing all morning pic.twitter.com/6GJ0UymQBu
— Barstool Baseball (@Starting9) March 12, 2023
The Japanese broadcast is pretty cool, too.
The Japanese broadcast for Ohtani’s HR is ELECTRIC pic.twitter.com/7f4aXc5GqD
— Barstool Baseball (@Starting9) March 12, 2023
Japan didn’t get much else on offense, but they didn’t need to after Ohtani’s blast. They beat Australia 4-0