phoenix- The complete experience shōhei ohtani can contribute, will be available in the opening game of the Los Angeles Angels.
The Japanese, who shines both with the bat and on the mound, was chosen to start the match on April 7 at Angel Stadium against the Houston Astros. He is also expected to be part of the lineup as a designated hitter.
Ohtani, the AL MVP last season, is coming off one of the most productive and unusual years in baseball history.
“I talked to him and he’s very excited about this,” manager Joe Maddon told reporters Friday. “Typically, he handles everything with very little emotion. Of course he is happy with this. He has earned the right to do so. We’re ready to rock and roll. It’s exciting for everyone and it’s the right thing to do. I am looking forward to a good result.”
Ohtani went 9-2 last season with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts over 130 1/3 innings. With the wood he achieved 46 home runs, 26 doubles and eight triples.
In addition, he made 26 robberies.
The Japanese star would now be the beneficiary of a rule change in the majors, after the National League has also adopted the designated hitter. Pitchers who start duels as part of the batting order may continue in the game as designated hitters, even when removed from the mound.
Likewise, a designated hitter may enter the duel to pitch.
Unsigned Comfort
There aren’t many players with high potential for success who are still on the free agent market. One exception is outfielder Michael Conforto.
An All-Star in 2017, Conforto played seven seasons with the New York Mets before hitting the market this winter.
The 29-year-old turned down an $18.4 million, one-year qualifying offer from New York, which means any team that hires him has to give the Mets at least one draft pick.
That would be one of the reasons for the coldness shown by the market to the outfielder, despite the fact that the opening game is less than two weeks away. Another reason is that Conforto struggled a bit last year, in which he hit .232 with 14 home runs.
Despite this, he manages many walks, is under 30 years old, has 132 home runs in his career and helped the Mets reach the World Series in 2015.
And now that there is a designated hitter in the National League, defensive strengths or weaknesses would worry teams less.
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Shohei Ohtani will start the Angels’ first game and put the new rule into effect