Ohtani to make 1st appearance at DH early next week
With his spring pitching debut in the books, Shohei Ohtani will now prepare to step into the batter's box.
Los Angeles Angels skipper Mike Scioscia said Saturday that the two-way phenom will make his first appearance as the club's designated hitter early next week, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN. The Angels have previously stated that Ohtani won't hit the day before or after he pitches, making Monday the earliest that he could see his next game action.
The 23-year-old found mixed results in his first appearance on a major league mound against the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed two runs (one earned) off two hits and one walk, while also collecting a pair of strikeouts across 1 1/3 innings. The earned run he surrendered came on a solo homer off the bat Keon Broxton.
"I didn't feel any nervousness," Ohtani said. "(It) felt like I was pitching in Japan again. It's the beginning of the year. It's the first game of the year, and obviously I'm not 100 percent. But I'm going to try and work my way up there."
Ohtani will be deployed as a regular starter throughout the season, with the Angels occasionally penciling him in as their DH. He hit .332/.403/.540 with eight home runs, 16 doubles and 63 strikeouts in 231 plate appearances with the Nippon-Ham Fighters last year.
"I'm excited to hit and pitch again, and I just want to keep on getting better and have good results from here on out," Ohtani said.