Ranking Shohei Ohtani’s Top 5 Games From His Rookie Year

ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 13: Pitcher Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches in the first inning during the MLB game against the Minnesota Twins at Angel Stadium on May 13, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

In what was Ohtani’s second best pitching performance of the season (more on the best in a bit), he took on the Minnesota Twins in a game where he was dominate from the first inning until he exited in the seventh.

Ohtani finished the game with 11 strikeouts, the second highest total from his rookie year. And in a season where his command seemed iffy at times, Ohtani only allowed three hits and two walks. Throughout his entire start, the Twins never seemed to have a chance against Shohei, as the rookie was always one step ahead.

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In fact, the only run Ohtani allowed was not even given up by him. After Ohtani walked a Twins’ batter, he was pulled for Cam Bedrosian, who allowed that runner to cross home. This game lowered Ohtani’s season-long ERA to 3.58, dropping it a full 52 points.

This was also the beginning of a solid string of games for Ohtani, as from this game up until his season as a pitcher ended, Ohtani looked just as dominant as he did in Japan. If he had kept this up for an entire season, Ohtani would have been right at the top of Cy Young voting, and might have just came away with the award.

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