The Los Angeles Angels defeated the Texas Rangers in a 9-6, comeback victory, capped off with an incredible performance from Shohei Ohtani.
The two-way star was able to find a few barrels, running into a fastball in the top of the seventh inning, tying the game at five a piece. Then again in the top of the 12th inning when he hammered a fastball over the left-field wall.
His second blast provided the Angels with enough breathing room before adding two more, cementing a victory over a division opponent. The second blast gave him 20 homers on the season.
Ohtani has once again joined a short list of players, just himself, to accomplish an extremely rare feat by becoming the only player to hit 20 or more home runs and log 100 strikeouts as a pitcher.
20+ HR hit, 100+ strikeouts as pitcher, single season in MLB history:
2023 Shohei Ohtani
2022 Shohei Ohtani
2021 Shohei Ohtani— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 13, 2023
Since 2021, Ohtani’s logged 15 homers of at least 114 mph exit velocity, which is tied with the American League in homers on the season. On the mound, he has proven to be among the game’s elite arms.
He continues to dazzle with his tenacity, yearning to be great, and his raw ability at the plate and on the mound are a sight that is must-see television.
Shohei Ohtani hasn’t felt similar to ‘last year on the mound’
Seeing as he’s still the anchor of the Angels’ pitching staff, Ohtani holds a 3.32 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 102 strikeouts in 76 innings. At the plate, he’s posted a .955 OPS and is on pace with his historic 2021 season.
So far, he’s slugged 20 home runs, driven in 50, scored 42 runs and holds a 158 wRC+.
But as he’s graded in the 90th percentile in whiff rate, he appears to be on his game, but the command is one thing he hasn’t honed in on. That difference from last year is enough to see his lack of chase rate impact his actual performance.
His stuff being as good as it gets, coupled with sequencing, has provided him with enough room for error to remain a highly effective pitcher still.
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