Shohei Ohtani did something odd Thursday. He hit a 400-foot single against the Boston Red Sox. Yes, you heard correctly.
Ohtani, who was a starting pitcher and designated hitter Thursday for the Los Angeles Angels, hit a single overplayed by Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. who lost the ball in the sun.
Bradley lost the ball on the warning track as it hit the wall and ricocheted back off his leg. If this was any other ballpark, Ohtani would have had a home run, but not in Fenway. Instead, it turned into a very long single for the two-way player.
The bigger question might have been why didn’t this turn into extra bases? Well, because the player in front of Ohtani didn’t tag up right away until he saw where the ball landed. By then, all Ohanti could do was take first base.
Ohtani’s batting average is down this season, he is only hitting .230 with only 4 home runs, 12 RBIs, and unfortunately 29 strikeouts.
SHOHEI AND THE BABE: The last time a starting pitcher batted in one of the top four spots in the order at Fenway Park was Babe Ruth, as the Red Sox cleanup hitter, on Sept. 20, 1919 (Game 1) vs. White Sox. #GoHalos #ShoheiOhtani #OHTANISAN #Angels pic.twitter.com/zbgwZhioNq
— AngelsWin.com (@AngelsWin) May 5, 2022
Last year, Ohtani was a Major League sensation with the bat and the glove, as he pitched and hit his way into America’s heart. This season, he is struggling a bit but eventually, that will change and he will become his old self again. Although, a lot of fans still love the effort.
[Ballys]