2018 – Shohei Ohtani .285 22 HR 61 RBI 10 SB. 4-2 3.31 ERA 60 Ks
Shohei Ohtani was just what the doctor ordered for the Angels and their fans in 2018. Sho-Time was in full effect from the opening week of the season. When Ohtani hit his first home run to the first time he stepped on the mound he was electric and it created a buzz that had not been heard in Anaheim in years.
The first week Ohtani played he hit three homers in three consecutive games that he played and his first two starts he pitched six and seven innings recording 18 strikeouts and allowing only three runs in collecting two victories. Not bad for a 23-year old prodigy at the time.
Even though Ohtani’s season on the mound was cut short in mid-June when he was diagnosed with a torn UCL he kept DH-ing smacking 22 homers and driving in 61 runs. For his efforts Ohtani was awarded the AL Rookie of the Year Award which had only been won by two other Angels, Tim Salmon and Mike Trout. It is definitely a season Angel fans will not soon forget. Hopefully we will get to see it again this year, but for a full season this time.