45, one off MLB lead", "Ohtani joins Giants legend Mays in exclusive stat club", "Ohtani a triple threat as Halos rout Mariners", "Fearsome Ohtani walking at historic rate", "Ohtani named team MVP and Pitcher of Year", "46 HRs, 100 RBIs: Shohei caps dream season", "Register Players Encyclopedia - Baseball-Reference.com", "A 2-way and a 2-time MVP in Ohtani, Bryce", "Angels' Shohei Ohtani wins American League MVP", "The '21 All-MLB Team is here. [178] Ohtani was listed in Forbes 30 under 30 Asia class of 2018 in the field of Entertainment & Sports. Positions: Designated Hitter and Pitcher Bats: Left Throws: Right 6-4, 210lb (193cm, 95kg) . [130] Ohtani was also offered Japan's national honor, the People's Honour Award, by the Prime Minister of Japan in recognition of his accomplishments, but Ohtani rejected it, saying it was "still too early" for such an award. Shohei Ohtani, the 2021 AL MVP, is set to be a free agent after next season. This capped his bonus at $3.557 million and limited him to a rookie salary scale, while the signing team also had to pay a $20 million posting fee to the Fighters. TEMPE, Ariz. -- In a slight change from the original plan, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will make his first Cactus League start on Tuesday against the A's in Mesa instead of on Wednesday against the Brewers in Tempe. [120][121] Ohtani was also awarded the Silver Slugger Award for being the best offensive player at the designated hitter position in the American League,[122] and was named to Time 100's list of most influential people of 2021,[123] which culminated to many end-of-the-season-accolades. [141][157], Ohtani was selected to Japan's Under-18 National Team that eventually finished in sixth place at the 2012 18U Baseball World Championship 18U Baseball World Championship in Seoul, Korea. [45][46] On November 21, 2017, MLB and NPB came to a posting agreement for Ohtani. Ohtani declined to pitch, citing a scheduling conflict and his preference to "prioritize the season over the All-Star Game. He hit .257/.372/.592 with 46 homers, 26 doubles, eight triples and 100 RBIs in 155 games last year. [170] Whereas most pitchers throw only a little harder in big spots than they do in normal ones and most pitchers lose speed as the game goes on, Ohtani, like Verlander, are both able to reserve power and staying power in order to conserve energy without throwing max effort on every offering. [96] Additionally, Ohtani won the Best Major League Baseball Player ESPY Award, becoming the first Japanese player to win the award. [61] On September 7, Ohtani broke the MLB home run record by a Japanese rookie when he hit his 19th home run for the season. Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge got lost in the pitching duel between Angels starter Patrick Sandoval and New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. He also became the sixth starter in AL or NL history to make at least 13 home starts without a losing decision and an ERA below 2.00 in a season. With the count 01, Ohtani threw a fastball that registered 162km/h (101mph) on the stadium radar gun and shattered Ginji's bat in half. [75] Angels manager Joe Maddon later stated that Ohtani would not pitch for the rest of the season. [50], Prior to the start of the season, the Angels announced that they would continue to use Ohtani as both a hitter and a pitcher. He previously played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) Pacific League. Coincidentally, it was also the first-ever grand slam hit by Heim. [116], Ohtani was unanimously voted the American League Most Valuable Player, becoming the 23rd pitcher and first designated hitter to win the award. [180], As of April 2022[update], Ohtani endorsement earnings tripled from 2021 to an estimated MLB league-leading $20 million off the field, proving to be a marketing hit on both sides of the Pacific, with a group of 15 partnerships that included renewals among his partners Fanatics, Topps and Panini in the U.S. and Asics, Descente and Hugo Boss in Japan, as well as new deals with FTX, Kowa, Mitsubishi Bank and Salesforce. He was the second player, following Osamu Takechi (also 1950), to start a game at pitcher, bat in the heart of the order (3rd through 5th) and get a hit and a run batted in (RBI) in that game. [179], For his historic campaign in 2021, Ohtani was named to Time 100's list of most influential people of 2021 [123] and awarded the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award by Commissioner Rob Manfred. [109] And on September 25, Ohtani joined Willie Mays as the only players with at least 45 home runs, 20 stolen bases and six triples in a season,[110] when he hit two triples in consecutive plate appearances, becoming the first Angels player to do so since Peter Bourjos in April 2011. Ohtani was dominant for the Japanese national team in the 2015 Premier 12. [115], Since gaining national and international attention as a high school phenom, Ohtani is Japan's most celebrated athlete[6] and has faced intense media pressure scrutiny with the Japanese press his whole adult life. Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels reacts after scoring against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park on July 11 in Seattle, Washington. Ohtani, who has hit 34 home runs and has struck out 213 batters, was hit by a pitch Tuesday night in Oakland and he had a pretty funny reaction to it once he was able to shake off the pain. He went two innings and fanned two, allowing one run (on a double by Yoshitomo Tsutsugo and a single by Jose Lopez), relieved by Nishi with a 10 deficit. [65], On September 3, 2018, ESPN announced that doctors recommended that Ohtani undergo Tommy John surgery, after an MRI showed new damage to his UCL. He had 1,268 vote points, to 298 for runner-up Laird. He hit 100mph while blowing away eventual champion South Korea (10 K, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 R in 6 IP) before Norimoto relieved. [136] He became the first player in MLB history to start Opening Day as both the starting pitcher and the leadoff hitter. [145] The victory resulted in a six game pitching span from June 9 to July 13, where Ohtani went 6-0 with a 0.45 ERA (39.2 IP 2 ER) and 58 strikeouts, (while also hitting eight HR with a .997 OPS), while becoming the fourth pitcher all-time to go 6-0 with 58+ SO and 2-or-fewer ER in a six game span, joining Cy Young winners Johan Santana (2004), R.A. Dickey (2012) and Clayton Kershaw (2014). Shohei Ohtani is 9-7 with a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 152 strikeouts in 18 starts this season. Masataka Yoshida set the record for a Japanese position player free agent at $90M. In 104 games and 382 plate appearances in 2016, Ohtani hit 22 home runs. Overall, Ohtani pitched seven scoreless innings while striking out 12. But the really big deal is . Shohei Ohtani doesn't want to talk about free agency. Shohei Ohtani finished second in voting for the . Jul 19, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; American League pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) of the Los Angeles Angels smiles at fans before the 2022 MLB All Star Game at Dodger Stadium. [159], Ohtani was on the 28-man roster for the Japan National Baseball Team of the 2017 World Baseball Classic, but was forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury. [111], From September 22 to 25, Ohtani drew 13 walks in a 4-game span, tying an AL/NL record set by Babe Ruth in 1930, Bryce Harper in 2016, and Yasmani Grandal in 2021. Throughout the entire season, Ohtani performed double-duty as a pitcher and outfielder, utilizing his strong throwing arm as well as his impressive batting skills. Over 34.5. Several predictions posit that Ohtani will sign with the Dodgers - the Los Angeles . In it, Ohtani's 2021 season was ranked No.1, topping great seasons by athletes such as Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, and Lionel Messi. [176][177], When Ohtani announced in September 2017 that he wanted to pursue a career in MLB,[44] he signed with CAA Sports for representation. In the first round, he hit 22 home runs, tying him with opponent Juan Soto. Shohei Ohtani AP. The Los Angeles Angels are in a precarious position with two-way star player Shohei Ohtani, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2023 season. And it's stacked", "Ohtani wins 2021 Edgar Martinez DH Award", "Ohtani Wins This Year's Edgar Martinez DH Award", "The 100 Most Influential People of 2021, Shohei Ohtani", "One of a kind: Ohtani wins AP Male Athlete of Year award", "Shohei Ohtani is the 2021 Sporting News Athlete of the Year", "Ohtani is Baseball Digest's Player of the Year", "Shohei Ohtani Is Baseball America's 2021 MLB Player Of The Year", "The 2021 Players Choice Award winners are", "Tokyo Tower to light the sky in Angels' colors to celebrate Shohei Ohtani's MVP season", "Japan floated idea of national honour for MLB's Ohtani, but he declined", "The 50 greatest seasons in sports history, ranked", "MLB adds Shohei Ohtani rule to universal DH", "Opening Day Sho-time! [25][26] He tossed a 10 shutout against Orix on September 13 and became the first pitcher out of high school to record a 10 shutout victory within his first two years for the Fighters since Toshiaki Moriyasu in 1967. He tied for 8th in the PL in wins and was third in strikeouts (behind Norimoto and Kodai Senga). [63] On November 12, he was named the American League Rookie of the Year. In 2021, Ohtani compiled 46 home runs, 100 RBI and a .965 OPS en route to the American League MVP award. [161] With an overhand delivery,[162] he throws a four-seam fastball averaging 97 miles per hour (156km/h)[161] topping out at 102.5mph (165km/h),[163] an 8688-mile-per-hour (138142km/h) forkball/split-finger fastball[164][165] with late diving action,[166] an occasional curveball, and a solid slider at 8284 miles per hour (132135km/h). Shohei Ohtani, the reigning AL MVP and one of the most exciting players in all of baseball can also be one of the most confusing players to figure out how to deploy and value in fantasy baseball. He also hit 162km/h twice against the second hitter, Aoi Enomoto. [68], On May 7, 2019, Ohtani played in his first game with the Angels since undergoing Tommy John surgery, batting as a designated hitter against the Detroit Tigers. On October 16, 2016, Ohtani recorded the fastest pitch in NPB history at 165 kilometres per hour (102.5mph). [35] Norimoto relieved with a 30 lead but he and two other relievers combined to allow four in the 9th to blow it as Japan fell in a shocking defeat. Shohei Ohtani has agreed to a $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels for the 2023 season in the two-way superstar's final year of arbitration eligibility before free agency.. [71], The 2020 MLB season did not start until July 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. He made the Best Nine as the PL's top hurler. Shohei Ohtani takes swings at Angels spring training on Feb. 17, 2023. Ohtani pitches before Japan trip, reaching 98 mph. Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to be a free agent following the 2023 season in which he's expected to earn a contract upwards of $500 million attached to a long-term . [144], On June 9, 2022, Ohtani hit a go-ahead two-run home run and pitched seven innings, including throwing a 101 mph fastball to strike out Rafael Devers to end the third - the hardest strikeout pitch of his career, in a 5-2 win over the Boston Red Sox to end the Angels' 14-game losing streak, the longest in franchise history. Ohtani was used as a rookie in both the outfield (leading the Fighters with 51 games in right) and as a pitcher. [185], In 2021, Ohtani had an estimated MLB league-leading $6 million in annual endorsement deals, which included Asics, Descente, Japan Airlines, Nishikawa Co., and Seiko Watch in Japan and Hugo Boss, New Era, Panini, Fanatics, Oakley and Topps in the United States. The Angels . "Sultan of Swat," meet "Sho Time." On Monday, baseball's Shohei Ohtani accomplished a feat not seen in nearly a century -- taking the mound as his team's starting pitcher while simultaneously . Calling his own came will help Ohtani pick up the pace. MESA, Ariz. -- Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani looked sharp against the A's on Tuesday, throwing 2 1/3 hitless innings in his lone Cactus League tune-up ahead of joining Team Japan in Tokyo for the World Baseball Classic. He got nearly double as many votes as any other pitcher for the PL for the 2016 NPB All-Star Game; he had 300,025 while #2 Shota Takeda had 158,008. [40], He led Nippon Ham to the 2016 Japan Series, but lost the opener to the Hiroshima Carp; he fanned 11 in 6 innings but allowed 3 runs, two on a homer by Brad Eldred and one on a steal of home by Seiya Suzuki. [146], On July 6, 2022, against the Miami Marlins, Ohtani made MLB history again by becoming the first player since RBI became an official statistic in 1920 to record 10 strikeouts as a pitcher, two RBIs as a batter, and a stolen base all in a single game. [175] Mizuhara's role as Ohtani's personal interpreter ranges from confidante to conditioning coach and throwing partner, to making sure Ohtani understands, and is understood. The grand slam was the first of his professional career, including both NPB and MLB. Nine wins and two losses as a pitcher. 40th HR, 8 IP", "What did Shohei Ohtani do this week? [174] Ippei Mizuhara is Ohtani's personal interpreter with the Los Angeles Angels and has known him since Ohtani was 18, starting in 2013 during Ohtani's days with the Fighters. He was the run-away winner of the 2016 Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award, getting 253 of 254 first-place votes (Naoki Miyanishi got the other one) and one second-place vote. There is speculation from reporters and analysts that the 28-year-old Japanese-born MLB star will move to a new team once he becomes a free agent after the 2023 season. It was another incredible year for Shohei Ohtani, one where he dominated at the plate and on the mound, finishing with 34 home runs and a 15-9 record with a . [171] For the 2021 season, his 28.8 feet-per-second sprint speed ranked in the 92nd percentile of all players, as did his 3.51 second 80-foot split[172] and he also recorded the fastest home to first average sprint time in the Majors at 4.09 seconds,[170][173] while recording a career-high 26 stolen bases. [167] He posted a walks per nine innings rate of 3.3 across his NPB career. February 21, 2023, 12:54 AM. He joined Alex Rodriguez in 2007 and Ken Griffey Jr. in 1999 as the 3rd AL player to accomplish this feat before September. He finished the season batting .286/.343/.505 with 18 home runs, 62 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 106 games. the legend of Shohei Ohtani as a two-way player truly began. He threw seven scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts in the Angels' 8-0 victory over the Red Sox, while also going 2-for-4 from the plate and a RBI single in the eighth inning to become the second starting pitcher to ever record a hit at Fenway after Roger Clemens in 1996, since the implementation of the designated hitter in 1973. [137] During a game against the Astros on April 20, Ohtani batted twice in the top of the first inning, becoming the first starting pitcher to do so since at least 1900. Earlier this week, after . Coming up with a 54 deficit in the 8th, he singled off Shinji Tajima to bring in Shogo Akiyama with the tying run. He previously played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) Pacific League.. Ohtani was the first pick of the Fighters in the 2012 draft. The PL would lose 86 but he got a no-decision. Supreme - the Apartment STAFF Work jacket by saki ; by 's shop ; HOT ! He rarely played the field but did see some action at DH, hitting .202/.252/.376 with 5 home runs in 109 at bats. [57] On June 6, Ohtani left the game after a blister on the same finger. Facing South Korea again in the semifinals, he was even sharper (11 K, 0 BB, 1 HB, 1 H in 7 IP). He was the ace of Japan's pitching staff, which featured Kenta Maeda. Ohtani, who batted .257/.372/.592, including 46 home runs runner-up for the MLB lead in homers, 100 RBI, 103 runs and 26 steals in 155 games and 639 plate appearances, hit several milestones to close his season, reaching both 100 RBIs and 100 runs for the first time in his career. Widely considered one of . [42] He topped 4-time Cuban MVP Alfredo Despaigne easily at DH (190 votes to 47; 3 others combined for 8 votes) but the vote at pitcher was closer (he had 111 of 245 votes, Ishikawa 69 and Tsuyoshi Wada 61). Through their first two at-bats, Ohtani and Judge were hitless. Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was largely noncommital when addressing questions about his future with the Angels and pending free agency during his first press conference at spring . Shohei Ohtani ( , tani Shhei, born July 5, 1994), nicknamed "Shotime",[2] is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher, designated hitter and outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). For the month of July, he produced nine home runs, 19 RBIs, 16 walks and a .282/.396/.671 slash line in 23 games at the plate, and a 1.35 ERA with 17 strikeouts and one walk in 20 innings. He drew a career-high four walks on September 22 and three walks on September 23, against the Houston Astros, followed by four more walks on September 24 and two walks on September 25 against the Seattle Mariners. By DynastyOneStop - Nathan On May 13, 2022. He hit 165km/h (102.5mph) on the radar gun during the year, setting a new NPB record. Ohtani was subsequently named to the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation All-World Team and was named the 2015 WBSC Baseball Player of the Year. [6] Coached by his father, he displayed an aptitude for the game at an early age. You've got the NFBC approach of Ohtani is one player and you have to decide each . This is the online version of our daily . He also became the first pitcher out of high school to notch two shutout victories within his first two years in the NPB since Yu Darvish. On July 13, Ohtani made All-Star Game history again as the starting pitcher and leadoff designated hitter for the American League. Ohtani's 1st spring start bumped up to Tuesday. [36] Ohtani was the same dominant pitcher on the mound. [63] His .564 slugging percentage ranked seventh overall among MLB players with at least 350 plate appearances for this season. 1 story all season, really -- is the looming free agency of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.Ohtani . @ RhettBollinger. [160], Ohtani is a 6-foot-4-inch (1.93m), 210-pound (95kg) right-handed starting pitcher. [21], While not fluent, Ohtani can speak English and knows Spanish, but prefers to speak to the media through an interpreter, translating his native Japanese to English. He also became the fourth Angels player with multiple seasons of 15 home runs and 10 stolen bases prior to the All-Star break and the eighth Major Leaguer since earned runs were official in 1913 to record 40-plus strikeouts and zero earned runs in a four-start span. [170] Scouts have timed Ohtani running from the batter's box to first base in as little as 3.8 seconds. The pitch came against lead-off hitter Akaminai Ginji in the 1st inning. Yankees, Mets on MLB insider's list of Angels' Shohei Ohtani suitors Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani, the 2021 American League MVP, is set to hit . He also tied for the MLB lead with eight triples to go along with 26 stolen bases. [119] He became the first pitcher, the first Japanese player and the first Angels player to win the Edgar Martnez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. The use of Ohtani to promote it was seen as tying to his Japanese nationality, as Nintendo is based in Japan. So it is possible to make the case that Ohtani has somehow improved on his historic 2021 season. He also hit .273/.356/.519 with 34 homers, 30 doubles, 11 stolen bases, and 95 RBIs in 157 games. They know what he does and they obviously love him. He is a designated hitter and occasional outfielder known for being able to hit with homerun power. Shohei Ohtani knew coming . Among AL pitchers, Ohtani finished the year first in SO/9 innings rate (11.87), third in strikeouts (219), fourth in ERA (2.33) and tied for fourth in wins (15), while amongst AL hitters, Ohtani ranked fourth in homers (34), fifth in OPS (.875), fifth in total bases (304), third in intentional walks (14), tied for third in extra-base hits (70), fifth in slugging (.519), tied for fourth in triples (6), seventh in RBIs (95), seventh in walks (72), and tied for eighth in runs (90). It was all great fun for baseball, which is obviously thriving like never before. Both the New York Yankees and New York Mets . February 22nd, 2023. [102] Additionally, in the same game, Ohtani became the first pitcher to throw a scoreless top half and record a hit, a RBI, a stolen base and a scored run while playing in an AL ballpark since Luis Tiant did so for the Minnesota Twins on April 26, 1970. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. In a September 7 game against the Orix Buffaloes, he homered to straightaway center at Kyocera Dome to become the first Japanese player to reach double digits in both home runs and wins. Ohtani's best game yet? Ohtani finished the game at 6 innings pitched with 1 hit, no runs, and 1 walk surrendered and 12 strikeouts, tying his career high. Then in the sixth inning, Ohtani declared himself the most valuable player. TEMPE, Ariz. As Shohei Ohtani stepped to the plate, the Tempe Diablo Stadium public address system blared the bouncy little J-pop tune, "Fashion Monster." The Angels dugout roared in . Sarah Valenzuela. [181], Ohtani is the cover athlete of MLB The Show 22[182] and is the first Asian player to be featured as the cover star of MLB: The Show. The San Francisco Giants signed former New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto this offseason. 4) Los Angeles Angels. [88] Three days later, Ohtani was named AL Player of the Week for the third time in his career after hitting six home runs and picking up a win as starting pitcher. "I've always been open to it," Ohtani's agent Nez Balelo . The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly the "favorites" to nab Angels star . His chase to join the 60-home run club is incredibly fun and, frankly, carrying a lackluster, at this point, Yankees supporting offensive cast has to work in his favor. [115] On the hitting side, Ohtani finished with an American League-leading 20 intentional walks, which was the most by an AL player since Mike Trout in 2018. [10], On February 8, Ohtani agreed to a two-year $8.5 million contract with the Angels, avoiding arbitration.[81]. [60], After Ohtani had not pitched for 11 weeks, Angels manager Mike Scioscia announced that Ohtani would start the game against the Houston Astros on September 2. Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani, the 2021 American League MVP and runner-up in 2022, is set to hit free agency in 2023. On offense, he went 2-4 with a run and 2 RBIs. THE GAME: The Angels jumped on the Oakland Athletics' bullpen for nine runs over a four-inning stretch and rolled to an 11-5 victory on Tuesday in Mesa, Ariz. Parkwood & Park Place Apartments, Keene's premier rental property units. [38] In Game 1, he batted for DH Yuya Hasegawa and lined out in the 8th against Scott Mathieson. [3] Additionally, Ohtani's 2021 season was recognized for two Guinness World Records titles: (1) the first MLB player to achieve 100+ innings and record 100+ strikeouts as a pitcher, and 100+ RBIs, hits and runs as a batter in a single season and (2) the first player to start the MLB All-Star Game as a pitcher and a designated hitter. [69] In a June 13 game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Ohtani became the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle in MLB history. [2] He had seven outfield assists to one error. [33], Ohtani led the league in wins and winning percentage with a 155 record in just 22 starts, and his 2.24 ERA, 5 complete games, and 3 shutouts were also best in the league. Shohei . He was thrown out in a rundown. In 21 games pitched, he had a career low in ERA at 1.86. Starting at DH and hitting 5th in Game 2, he homered off Shoichi Ino in the 5th to start the PL comeback from a 30 deficit. On the mound, he has struck out 87 and walked 35 in . [133] The rule will enable Ohtani to remain in the game after he is done pitching at his customary designated hitter spot instead of being switched to a defensive position like the outfield, something that he did seven times in 2021. ", "Sho stunner: Two HRs, career-high 8(!) Owner Arte Moreno told me the incumbent has as good a chance as anyone. [117][118] For the 2021 All-MLB Team, Ohtani is the only player to be named to both teams, first team and second team, in the same season (as a designated hitter and starting pitcher respectively). [186] On November 16, 2021, it was announced that Ohtani joined cryptocurrency exchange FTX as a global ambassador,[187] partnering on various animal charitable initiatives. [93], On July 4, Ohtani made history by becoming the first player to be selected as an All-Star as both a position player and a pitcher. Avalanche in Lake Tahoe Area Hits Apartment Building . He thus produced three of the PL's five runs in the 55 tie, earning him game MVP honors. [156], The Angels announced that Ohtani was once again named as both the team's Los Angeles Angels Player of the Year of 2022 and the team's Nick Adenhart Pitcher of the Year Award, as voted by his teammates. On July 26, in his 15th pitching start of the season against the Colorado Rockies, Ohtani became the first pitcher in league history to register 100 strikeouts while holding a major-league-leading 35 home runs before the end of July, as no pitcher had ever recorded triple-digit strikeouts and added more than nine home runs in the same season. Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 21:18. Shohei Ohtani ( , tani Shhei, born July 5, 1994), nicknamed "Shotime", is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher, designated hitter and outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). Even so, it doesn't sound as though two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels are likely to reach a deal before it's go time. [132], On March 22, 2022, Major League Baseball introduced a new rule that allows for a pitcher in the batting order to remain in the game as a designated hitter after they are pulled from the pitching mound. He led the event in ERA (Scott Diamond had 12 innings with a 0.00 ERA to Ohtani's 13) and strikeouts (one ahead of Chun-Lin Kuo) while allowing the lowest average by a starting pitcher. The crown jewel will be Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani. [3], In 2022, Ohtani became the first player in the modern era to qualify for both the hitting and pitching leaderboards in one season, reaching the limits of 3.1 plate appearances and one inning pitched per game with 586 at bats against 166 innings pitched. 7. [143] On May 14, 2022, Ohtani hit his 100th career MLB home run, making him the third Japanese-born player with at least 100 homers in the majors, trailing only Hideki Matsui with 175 and Ichiro Suzuki with 117.