Los Angeles Angels baseball player Shohei Ohtani hit his first major league three-run home run on a 2-2 pitch by Cleveland Indians starter, Josh Tomlin, on his debut appearance at the Angel Stadium.
When Ohtani returned to the team dugout after the smashing performance, he was received in mock silence before teammates mobbed the player in celebration.
Through an interpreter, Japan-born Ohtani said, “After getting my first hit out of the way, I felt more comfortable and relaxed.
“And everyone around me was doing a good job too, making it tough for the pitcher. That was a factor.”
The Los Angeles Angels beat the Cleveland Indians by 13-2. Mike Scioscia, Angels’ manager, said, “Shohei put on a display of the type of talent he has tonight.
“He showed the power. He showed the ability to just square up a baseball, and he had a great night for us.”
Infielder for the Angels, Ian Kinsler, said, “It’s a lot of fun to see something like that from a guy that has a huge spotlight on his and obviously doesn’t let it bother him, comes out and plays extremely well the first week of the season.”
The 23-year-old’s achievement is no ordinary feat, either. According to STATS LLC, the baseball player is remarkably the first to win a starting pitcher, then start and homer as a non-pitcher in his next game in the same season since baseball titan Babe Ruth in 1921.
FOX Sports West tweeted: “Not sure what’s better… Ohtani’s FIRST CAREER HOME RUN or the celebration! One word: Amazing.”
The Los Angeles Angels baseball player, who is reportedly attempting to become baseball’s first regular two-way player in almost a century, is due to make his next pitching start Sunday 8 at Angel Stadium.
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