If there’s one saving grace for the Los Angeles Angels, who went from being the second-best team in the American League to fourth place in the AL West, it’s been two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.
The reigning American League MVP is having himself yet another solid season and has at the very least put himself in the conversation to win the award again, though it seems likely that he’ll lose out to Aaron Judge.
Ohtani though is still amazing people with his ability to pitch and hit.
One MLB analyst tweeted that Ohtani has reached base 167 times as a hitter and has struck out 157 batters as a pitcher.
Shohei Ohtani has struck out 157 batters while getting on base 167 times as a hitter. Even now, that seems ridiculous.
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 14, 2022
Ohtani Continues To Amaze
That is quite the feat by Ohtani.
While he most likely will not repeat as the American League MVP, he’s still putting together a solid case for it.
If Judge wasn’t having the type of season he’s had to date, then Ohtani might be the unanimous choice.
The 28-year-old continues to draw comparisons to the great Babe Ruth.
As a pitcher, he’s 10-7 and has posted a 2.68 ERA on the season.
At the plate, he’s hit 26 home runs and driven in 68 on the year.
He’s also posted an .848 OPS.
Once again, Ohtani is putting together an MVP caliber season and is still one of, if not the best player in all of baseball.
But to have struck out over 100 hitters while also reaching base over 100 times is an impressive accomplishment by the two-way phenom.
Unfortunately, it won’t save the Angels this year.
Still, it’s an impressive mark and helps his case for the MVP award, even though it will likely go to Judge when it’s all said and done.