Angels’ Ohtani just OK in his spring debut
Japanese star allows 2 hits, 2 runs in 1„ innings
TEMPE, Ariz. — In his first start of the spring, Brewers right- hander Chase Anderson — a 12- game winner last season — gave up two hits and two runs in one inning. Nobody cares about that. His opposite number Saturday, Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani, yielded two hits and two runs — one earned — in 1⅓ innings in his debut. That’s international news. Such is the weight of trying to become the first player to pitch and hit regularly in the majors in nearly a century.
Ohtani’s much- anticipated first game in American baseball, albeit in an exhibition, featured some shaky moments and a few encouraging ones.
He struggled with his command, throwing a first- pitch ball to five of the seven batters he faced. His fastball was not as overpowering as advertised, topping out at 97 mph, a respectable number but short of the triple digits he supposedly reaches.
On the other hand, Ohtani’s breaking pitches looked sharp, especially his splitter and a 69 mph curveball that drew some oohs and aahs.
For any other pitcher, this would have been a typically up- and- down first start. For the Japanese star, it was a major event that will be dis- sected and debated here and especially back home.
Facing a less- than- representative Brewers lineup, Ohtani struck out two but also threw only 17 of his 31 pitches for strikes and paid for his mistakes.
“He’s got a very live arm,’’ said outfielder Brett Phillips, who struck out on three pitches, the third one a nice splitter. “Fastball, he might have to locate a little better, just because today it was a little flatter. But it was coming out good. Off- speed looked really good. He definitely has a chance to be really good.’’
On a sunny but unseasonably crisp day, with Tempe Diablo Stadium about three- quarters full and the game- time temperature at 57 degrees, Ohtani labored through a 26- pitch first inning in which he allowed an unearned run.
He fell behind 3- 1 to leadoff hitter Jonathan Villar, who smacked a ground- rule double to center field and came around to score later when Ohtani threw a wild pitch and catcher Martin Maldonado committed a throwing error trying to nail the trailing runner at second.
Ohtani recovered by striking out Phillips to get out of the inning, but Keon Broxton led off the second with a line shot that cleared the left- field fence by plenty. After getting Nick Franklin to fly out, Ohtani was removed to mild applause.
Ohtani, 23, said he enjoyed the experience despite the results.
“I didn’t feel any nervousness; I felt like I was pitching in Japan again,’’ he said. “But it’s the begin-
ning of the year. The first game of the year, I’m never obviously at 100 percent. I’m going to slowly try to work my way up there.’’
Though it’s hard to imagine Ohtani wasn’t extra- pumped up for a game that was being broadcast live to his native land, his pregame demeanor didn’t betray any nerves.
A little over an hour before he took the mound, Ohtani was playing dominoes and merrily exchanging comments with teammate Blake Parker, relying on an interpreter when needed. Moments later, he was bouncing a baseball off his chest as if it were a soccer ball.
Yes, this was merely an exhibition, the second of the Angels’ 33 practice games before the season opener March 29. But it was also by far the biggest baseball happening of the day, followed closely by a cadre of journalists from the United States and Japan.
“Me, personally, I was amped up,’’ Maldonado said. “I can’t imagine how he was. First day, you have that feeling in your stomach like you want to go out there. I doubt if he didn’t have that.’’
The Brewers’ lineup was short on familiar faces, with Villar, Broxton and Manny Pina among the better- known starters. New acquisitions Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich did not play, and neither did Ryan Braun, Travis Shaw or Domingo Santana.
Still, Ohtani was facing pro hitters who are quite adept at pouncing on meaty fastballs, and Ohtani left a few of those high in the zone.
“When I fell behind in the count and I tried to throw a strike, I had to locate it better,’’ he said. “I left it over the plate too much. That’s what happened with the double to the leadoff hitter and the home run.’’
Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who said Ohtani’s first opportunity as a hitter will come early in the coming week, was pleased to see him throw all his pitches and get the first start out of the way.
Ohtani’s release point was not ideal, but that’s a common malady this early in spring training. And those fine breaking pitches were quite encouraging.
“He has that ability to change speeds and spin the ball,’’ Scioscia said. “Overall, I think you’ll see his fastball command start to improve as we get into spring. He showed some real good signs this afternoon.’’
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