So, what crazy thing did Shohei Ohtani do tonight? Oh, just a league-leading home run that most Major League Baseball players probably wouldn’t have even bothered swinging at.
Ohtani, who seems to do something amazing or noteworthy in just about every Los Angeles Angels game these days, came up to bat in the bottom of the 2nd inning of Monday’s game against the Cleveland Indians. Down in the count 1-2, Ohtani got a pitch from Sam Hentges that went right down the middle but sailed up towards his head. Not content to let this one go for a surefire ball, Ohtani swung and blasted it into the bleachers for a three-run homer that put LA up 6-1.
Easy to keep your eye on the ball when it's literally at eye level. pic.twitter.com/ttGdY3ZIPJ
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 18, 2021
“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness…what can’t he do?” Indeed.
Not only was that pitch high, but it also happens to be the 2nd-highest pitch hit for a home run in the Major Leagues this season. Bet you didn’t even know that was a thing.
SHOHEI OHTANI
That homer came on a pitch 4.19 feet above the ground
That's the 2nd-highest pitch anyone has homered off this year (Willians Astudillo, 4.24 ft above ground) pic.twitter.com/CmBKvxNUq6
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 18, 2021
And just in case you were concerned he’s only got an eye for high pitches, many folks have pointed out that a recent home run of his came from the very opposite direction.
the pitch location on two of Shohei Ohtani's most recent homers lmao pic.twitter.com/PWoCmpE3yv
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) May 18, 2021
So for those keeping track, Ohtani now leads MLB in home runs (13) and boasts a 2.10 ERA as a pitcher to boot. There truly is nothing this guy can’t do.
So Shohei Ohtani right now…
13 HR: most in MLB
157 wRC+: top-20 qualifier
2.10 ERA: top-25 (min. 20 IP)
36.4% K rate: top-10 (min. 20 IP)
95th percentile sprint speed— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) May 18, 2021
[Angels]
