The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ohtani’s hot start has fans in Japan feeling ‘amazing’
Shohei Ohtani’s electrifying start with the Los Angeles Angels certainly sent a jolt of excitement through his fans back home in Japan.
A slugger who can also pitch, Ohtani homered in his second straight home game Wednesday, blasting a tworun shot off AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in the fifth inning of the series finale against the Cleveland Indians.
That followed a three-run homer in his first home at-bat on Tuesday.
Ohtani had only four hits and no home runs in 32 at-bats during spring training with the Angels. That led to reports he may start the regular season in the minors.
“I think it is amazing. That’s the only word that I can think of,” Japanese businessman Toru Fujimori said. “He couldn’t do well during the preseason and some newspapers said he may even be sent to the minor leagues. I think the team did very well to use him in the opening game despite that fact.”
The rookie sensation was big news in Japan, where political scandals and fears of U.S.-imposed trade tariffs have dominated headlines for weeks.
“I knew that he could do well in the majors, but I’m surprised that he hit two home runs in two consecutive games,” office worker Shuhei Abe said.
Japanese media also got into the act.
“Sensational Home Debut: First At-Bat, First Home Run,” read a front-page headline in the Sports Nippon newspaper.
Mets: Far from the warmth of Florida where he became a household name and a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Tim Tebow made his Double-A debut on Thursday night with the Binghamton (N.Y.) Rumble Ponies as snowflakes wafted through the evening air and temperatures hovered in the 30s.
All of the field-level box seats at NYSEG Stadium were sold on the blustery night, and although plenty of seats were empty, Tebow’s appearance lured New York Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon north from New York City to take a closer look at the organization’s most unusual prospect.
“He’s another ballplayer. I understand all the excitement because it’s Tim Tebow,” Wilpon said. “We look forward to having him perform and move up the system, which he’s doing. That’s why he’s here — moving up the chain.”
Tigers: Slugger Miguel Cabrera left Thursday’s game against the White Sox because of left hip flexor tightness. Cabrera stumbled after his foot hit the bag awkwardly as he rounded first on a single in the first inning. He remained in the game after being tended to for a few minutes, but Niko Goodrum replaced him at first base in the second inning.
Nationals: General manager Mike Rizzo was given a two-year extension through 2020, the club announced before Thursday’s home opener against the Mets.
Athletics: Claimed Trayce Thompson, the brother of Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson, off waivers from the Yankees.