Ohtani off to flying start with Angels, yet still improving

ANAHEIM — The most remarkable aspect of the first two months in Shohei Ohtani’s major league career is how the unprecedented has become normal.

After 90 plate appearances and seven starts on the mound for the Los Angeles Angels, a 23-yearold Japanese rookie with no prior experience in the stateside game is not just holding his own, but thriving as both a hitter and pitcher. During the Angels’ just-completed homestand, Ohtani hit his sixth homer of the season during the week between two dominant pitching victories in which he yielded three runs over 14 innings.

Baseball has seen nothing like Ohtani’s expansive ability in decades, yet his fellow Angels and their fans have already accepted the reality of a two-way player doing brilliant things. They’re already wondering what’s next for a youngster who is still learning, growing and striving to do more.

“When he’s on the mound, you forget that he’s a hitter that can smash homers,” second baseman Ian Kinsler said. “And when he’s jogging around the bases after a home run, you forget that he’s one of our best pitchers. So it’s a unique situation, and it’s fun to watch.”

Ohtani has a 100 mph fastball paired with a diabolical split-fingered fastball that has been one of the most effective pitches in baseball. He also has excellent control and two dangerous off-speed pitches, allowing him to post a 3.35 ERA and 52 strikeouts against just 14 walks.