Shohei Ohtani has shown flashes of brilliance so far this spring, but the Los Angeles Angels rookie has also been hit hard and not looked completely sharp.
After his latest outing, in which Ohtani was roughed up by the Tijuana Toros on Friday, the Japanese two-way player said he needs to adjust to the ball and mound.
“Adjustments need to be made with the ball and the mound and everything,” Ohtani said, via the OC Register’s Jeff Fletcher. “That may be some of the reasons I’m getting hit.”
According to Fletcher, Ohtani allowed six runs on five hits, with two walks, two hit batters and six strikeouts in three innings. There were mixed reports about his velocity, with nobody clocking him above 95 mph, and most reporters saying he was in the 90-94 mph range.
I have now seen Shohei Ohtani pitch and I am sure the 30 teams that so wanted him saw way better than this. Slider was very good but plenty of hangers. Fastball 92-94 not 97-99 and trouble locating #Angels.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 9, 2018
There have been more 90s and 91s on scouts’ radar guns for Shohei Ohtani’s fastball today than 95s. He has allowed six runs in three innings to the Tijuana Toros.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 9, 2018
Ohtani has now allowed 10 runs over six inning in three outings this spring. But it’s his 16 strikeouts in six innings that shows the kind of stuff and potential he has.
It’s very early in spring, and there will no doubt be an adjustment period for Ohtani. But once he gets settled in, fans should expect much better results.
