Just when it feels like Shohei Ohtani has done enough to silence every critic, there always seems to be another hurdle. Another doubter, another standard to surpass. He’s rewriting what’s possible on a baseball field, and again on his way toward another historic season with the bat. Yet somehow, for some analysts and fans alike, the conversation around Ohtani remains tinged with hesitation. Despite MVP awards, jaw-dropping stats, and the rare feat of excelling on both sides of the ball, there’s a sense that he still has more to prove.
And of course, the comparisons are inevitable. You know who to compare. Aaron Judge. The Yankees’ captain, the 62-homer slugger, and the emblem of classic power hitting in the modern game. In a sport that loves its head-to-head narratives, Ohtani vs. Judge has quietly become baseball’s version of a heavyweight clash. Two MVPs, two very different kinds of greatness, battling for supremacy in the minds of fans and the pages of history.
Well, the doubt is coming from ESPN personality Chris “Mad Dog” Russo. The mottormouth is still not going easy on Ohtani.
“Ohtani is not gonna hit and pitch on the same day. So take it easy.“
Well, Shohei Ohtani can pitch and bat on the same day, and he often does. That’s one of the things that makes him so unique and historic in modern baseball. As a two-way player, Ohtani not only starts games on the mound as a pitcher but also frequently serves as the DH or even bats in the lineup on days he pitches.
Remember his stint with the Angels? In 2022, against the Guardians, Ohtani pitched 5 innings, allowing 1 run with 6 strikeouts. In the same game, he was 1-for-4 with a home run, driving in multiple runs. So, Mad Dog might be wrong here. Yes, Ohtani is a brand in the Dodgers, and all the limelight will be on him when he pitches. But Ohtani knows the business, and doing both in a day is challenging yet regular stuff for him.
Yes, there are areas where Ohtani is yet to get over Judge. For instance, Judge is currently having a career BA of .294 while Ohtani has .282. Aaron Judge is still way ahead of Ohtani in terms of hitting home runs, with 333 homers compared to Ohtani’s 245. But can you name anyone other than Ohtani from the current roster who can pitch and act as a starting pitcher? Mad Dog might know it’s better!
Shohei Ohtani is about to start pitching
Shohei Ohtani joined an elite group of Dodgers hitters by launching at least 20 home runs within the first 55 games of the season. He now stands alongside Gil Hodges (21) and Cody Bellinger (20). This achievement marks only the 64th time in Major League history that a player has reached 20 home runs in the opening 55 games of a season.
But now, as we are talking about Ohtani’s home runs, it’s just a few days left to talk about his ERA! Yes, reportedly, Ohtani is set to start facing live hitters.
Yes, as a Dodgers fan, you surely waited for this moment, and it is here!
Well, he was supposed to start pitching earlier this season, but that shoulder injury he picked up trying to steal a base in last year’s World Series pushed things back and led to surgery. Now, Ohtani’s finally in the home stretch of his pitching comeback.
On May 26, just before the Dodgers’ game against the Mets, he threw his first live bullpen session. Reportedly, facing some hitters like Kim Hye-seong and Dalton Rushing, he tossed 22 pitches over an inning. That included one hit, one walk, and striking out two.
So, the best part? His fastball hit 97 mph, which is a great sign that he’s getting his power back.
Now that he’s closer than ever to being that unstoppable two-way force again, let’s see what’s coming next from Mad Dog.
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