After a rough spring, Shohei Ohtani began his MLB career on the right note.
The Japanese star laced a single to right field in his first career at-bat, which came on Opening Day Thursday against the Oakland A’s. He swung at the first pitch he saw from Kendall Graveman and took a pitch low and in and drove it to right.
Shohei Ohtani singles on the first pitch he sees in his first MLB plate appearance. pic.twitter.com/IJvHysAtj8
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) March 29, 2018
Ohtani’s single came with two outs and pushed Andrelton Simmons to second. Simmons later scored on a ground rule double by Martin Maldonado. Ohtani had to be stopped at third due to the ground rule double but would have scored had the ball stayed inside the park.
Ohtani began as the No. 8 hitter in the lineup for the Angels. Getting some early production from the bottom of the lineup is an encouraging sign for the Halos.
