Shohei Ohtani gave us some moments we may never see again in baseball. There may be no way to really measure or rank its effectiveness, but here are some of their top games that may very well be worth considering The Shohei Ohtani game–until now, anyway.
His best game ever?
27 June 2023 vs CWS
Ohtani hit what may be considered the best performance by a single player in an MLB game when he hit his 27th homer of the season in the first inning en route to a 10-strikeout showing on the mound. When he was removed with two runners on due to a broken nail in the seventh inning, he put on his batting gloves and launched his MLB-leading 28th homer in the bottom half of the frame to cut the Angels’ lead. He also became the sixth player since 1900 to hit two homers and strike out at least 10 batters in one game.
altercation with rangers
June 15, 2023 vs TEX
The Angels entered a crucial four-game set against the first-place Rangers intent on reducing their division lead. It turned out to be a four-day display of superhuman talent from Ohtani, which he capped off with a quality start and his 22nd home run. It was his fourth homer of the series, and he sent it 443 feet to opposite field after dueling Texas player Nathan Iovaldi on the hill. Ohtani earned his sixth win of the season, giving the Halos an important series win.
The sound of the strike was heard around the world
March 21, 2023 vs. Team USA
You couldn’t have asked for a better end to the World Baseball Classic. In a one-run game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Ohtani worked a full count before striking out Angels teammate Mike Trout on a sweeper to seal Team Japan’s championship. This included an unforgettable classic performance from Ohtani, who was named WBC MVP after slashing .435/.606/.739 with four doubles, one home run and 10 walks.
gem of a statement
September 29, 2022 vs Oak
In the midst of a tight race with Yankees rival Aaron Judge for the American League MVP award, Ohtani had possibly his best start of the year when he pitched the first no-hitter of his career in four innings. After Ohtani’s bid was broken up by a single in the eighth, he induced a groundout to seal his 10-strikeout scoreless streak before earning his 15th win of the season. He may not have found a no-hitter this night, but it’s hard not to wonder if it’s only a matter of timing.
Two-way, two-day showcase
June 22, 2022 vs KC
Ohtani struck out a career-best 13 batters in eight innings against the Royals, but went scoreless. Amazingly, it happened just one night after he established another career high with eight RBIs in a game in which he hit two homers – including a game-tying three-run shot in the bottom of the ninth. Included. Unsurprisingly, Ohtani became the first player in AL/NL history to have at least eight RBIs in a game and strike out at least 10 batters the next day.
police officer to the rescue
June 9, 2022 vs BOS
When the Angels were suffering a 14-game losing streak, there was no better person than Ohtani to end it. Trouble appeared to be brewing, however, when the Red Sox took an early lead in the fifth on a sac fly. But don’t worry, because Ohtani — who else? — hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the frame to put his team in good position.
babe’s old stomping grounds
May 5, 2022 vs BOS
In his first career start at Fenway Park, where Babe Ruth once played, Ohtani put in an outstanding performance. The modern-day two-hit wonder struck out 11 Red Sox in seven scoreless innings while yielding two hits, including a bases-loaded single. rang my own number Off the scoreboard on the Green Monster. Fittingly, he joined rare company with The Babe, and became the first starter to bat in one of the top four positions (third) in a game at Fenway Park since Ruth did so on September 20, 1919. Became a pitcher.
no doubt for number 40
August 18, 2021 Vs. He
Looking to put an exclamation point on his 2021 MVP campaign, Ohtani pitched seven innings of one-run ball in a tight game against the Tigers. Who better than the starting pitcher to provide some breathing space? Ohtani launched the ball 430 feet into the right field seats for his 40th homer of the season. Oh, and he threw a clean bottom in the eighth inning — including his eighth strikeout — for good measure.
hey now, you’re an all-star
July 13, 2021 vs NL
Ohtani made history before the festivities even began when he became the first player in Midsummer Classic history to be selected to the All-Star Game as both a position player and a pitcher. The day after participating in the Home Run Derby, he topped the first inning as the DH before taking the mound as the AL starter. Ohtani pitched perfect innings against Fernando Tatis Jr., Max Muncy and Nolan Arenado, earning the winning decision to end his historic week.
One-man Sho vs. O’s
July 2, 2021 vs BAL
After Ohtani blasted two homers – his 29th and 30th – in the game, the O’s did not allow him to defeat them in the bottom of the ninth in a tied game. So the two-way star took a walk and got creative: He stole second base (basically twice, after his first attempt was declined), then made his typical double on a single by Jared Walsh to score the walk-off run. Speed shown.
let’s usher in the two way era
April 4, 2021 vs CWS
This performance was the first of Ohtani to become the true two-way player we see today. It also launched his 2021 MVP campaign with a bang, Prior to this debut, he had not hit on pitch days, so when former Angels manager Joe Maddon penciled Ohtani, the pitcher, as his No. 2 batter, it caught the attention of the baseball world. Ohtani wasted no time as he clubbed a 451-foot homer — with an ear-searing crack off the bat — against Dylan Siege in the bottom of the first after lofting a clean top of the frame.
A historical cycle for Thanedar
13 June 2019 vs TB
Hitting the cycle can be one of the most difficult things to do in baseball, as it requires skill, strength, and a little bit of luck. Ohtani conquered it in his second year in the big leagues at Tropicana Field. After opening the scoring with a three-run homer in the first, Ohtani doubled in the third and tripled in the fifth to set himself up for a potentially historic inning. He hit a single to center field in the seventh to complete the cycle, becoming the first Japanese-born player to accomplish the feat.
Nice to meet you, Angel Stadium
April 3, 2018 vs CLE
After a difficult spring training in his largely debut year, Ohtani brought some relief to his mind by getting his first hit in his MLB debut against Oakland. But he confirmed that he was exactly as advertised when he came through with the bases loaded in his first at-bat at Angel Stadium. After scoring a run on a wild pitch, Ohtani hit his first career homer over the wall in front of an electric home crowd. He also received an epic silent treatment.