Shohei Ohtani is as amazing as he is absurd. The two-way Los Angeles Angels mega-star started the day in Detroit with a complete game, one-hit shutout against the Tigers. That was in the first leg of a doubleheader the Angels and Tigers were competing in.
So, what did the 2021 American League MVP do to follow that epic performance?
He hit a two-run home run! Ohtani blasted his 37th homer of the season in his first at-bat of the second leg.
And it wasn’t just an ordinary home run, as Shohei sent the ball into the opposite field!
Shortly after throwing a complete game shutout, Shohei Ohtani crushes an opposite-field homer! ⚾️💣🦄pic.twitter.com/Gz3JVOof4T
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) July 27, 2023
The 37th homer for Ohtani this season leads all of Major League Baseball. The only other player to hit 30+ home runs this season thus far is Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves, who has 32. So Shohei now has a five-homer lead on Olson and a nine-homer lead over Chicago White Sox star Luis Robert.
Naturally, Ohtani’s on-field showing drew significant reaction from onlookers. And he also made MLB history because, of course, he did. Shohei Ohtani became the first player ever to throw a shutout in one leg of a doubleheader and then crush a home run in the second.
Shohei Ohtani is the first player to throw a shutout in one game of a doubleheader, then hit a home run in the other game of the doubleheader. h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/lwmYmtDIIT
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 27, 2023
At this point, it’s pretty much expected. Shohei is doing things, unlike anyone we’ve ever seen in MLB. He might well hit 50 home runs this season, which going along with his pitching prowess this year, might make for one of the greatest individual seasons we’ve ever seen. He just continues to dazzle, and doing this all after hearing he won’t be traded is beastly.
[The Comeback, ESPN Stats & Info]
