If you can take one thing away from watching Shohei Ohtani play, let it be this. Conventional baseball logic doesn’t apply to him.
Generally speaking, pitchers are more vulnerable as they go deeper into games. It makes sense. Their arms are beginning to tire. This is especially true in recent years, with starters rarely throwing in the final innings. Also, the more a hitter sees a pitcher, the less likely he is to be fooled by him. So, it stands to reason that if a hitter sees the same pitcher three times in a game, he’ll have a decent chance of doing some damage in the third at-bat.
But that is not the case with Ohtani. Not even close. Ohtani made his fifth start of the year on Friday, as his Los Angeles Angels took on the Kansas City Royals. He pitched seven shutout innings, allowing two hits, two walks and striking out 11. He also continued a remarkable streak. Opposing hitters have had no luck against Ohtani in their third at-bats against him. Literally.
Ohtani has yet to surrender a hit this season against a hitter facing him for the third time in a game.
Third time through the order batters are hitting .000 against Shohei Ohtani this season
— Baseball Doesn't Exist (@BaseballDoesnt) April 22, 2023
As is so often the case with Ohtani, baseball fans were blown away by this stat.
This is ridiculous 😱 https://t.co/fluHWeMGFQ
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) April 22, 2023
excuse me? https://t.co/sXVNKbyBzF
— Prop Bet on Mets 162-0 (@scratchbomb) April 22, 2023
Lol 🦄 https://t.co/uOZHyXyIge
— Rob Wong (@RobWong34) April 22, 2023
Ohtani gonna be traded to the NL at the Trade Deadline and then become the first person to win AL and NL MVP in the same year https://t.co/ak2J4F4UXC
— BJM – Don’t Know Why You Say Hello, I Say Goodbye (@Bluejaysmemes) April 22, 2023
I know it’s still early but this should not be possible. Ohtani is absolutely on another level. Nobody else like him. https://t.co/cQYqMNdqkX
— Josh (@JoshGreenberg27) April 22, 2023
