Shohei Ohtani as a one-way player? The idea might be gaining some steam
The Angels are not ready to give up on Shohei Ohtani’s bid to remain a two-way player despite a series of elbow injuries that have limited the right-hander to 12 starts on the mound in his first three big league seasons.
But they are also open to the slugger becoming a one-way player, an idea that gained some steam this week when Ohtani, who suffered a forearm strain on Aug. 2, took fly balls in right field and ground balls at first base during batting practice in Minute Maid Park in Houston.
“It’s just a practice thing for him right now,†manager Joe Maddon said before the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Astros. “But you can see how proficient he is at it.â€
Ohtani’s arm injury will relegate the left-handed-hitting slugger to designated hitter for the rest of this season, but Maddon believes the 26-year-old will benefit from some extra work in the outfield and infield.
Patrick Sandoval’s start against Houston quickly deteriorated in the Angels’ 11-4 loss Monday. Were the Astros picking up on what he was going to throw?
“If you’re a young man like that, and all you’re going to do is swing the bat, that can get kind of boring,†Maddon said. “I’d like to see him diversify a little bit, and I think practicing like that will actually help him in the batter’s box.
“He does not need to just sit around and hit. He needs to move around a little bit, and you can see how well he does move around. The ball into the right-center field gap, he runs so perfectly and easily. It’s fascinating.â€
Ohtani, who entered Tuesday with a .172 average, .641 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, five homers and 14 RBIs in his first 22 games, spent five years as a two-way player for Nippon Ham in the Japanese Pacific League.
He played 57 games in right field and seven in left field in his first two seasons — 2013 and 2014 — but he never started a game in the outfield.
Maddon believes Ohtani, with his athleticism, strong throwing arm, above-average speed and long-and-lean, 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, would have no problems transitioning to the outfield in the major leagues. Or even the infield.
“He can play anywhere — he’s that good,†Maddon said. “He’s starting to get more comfortable in batter’s box … and we’re also seeing that he’s capable of playing any outfield position, I think.â€
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