Clayton Kershaw, a future Baseball Hall of Famer, is undoubtedly an authoritative voice when it comes to discussing Shohei Ohtani, having faced him as a rival for six years and played alongside him for roughly a season and a half with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He’s just one of many players across Major League Baseball who are astonished by what they’ve seen from the Japanese star in his dual role as a pitcher and designated hitter.
Clayton Kershaw is amazed by Ohtani
This was highlighted by the Dodgers pitcher, as reported by Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group. “We all knew that he threw hard,” Kershaw said of Ohtani. “But he’s got really good stuff. He’s got multiple pitches. He’s got six pitches, seven pitches – I don’t even know how many he’s got. His command – for not pitching for two years – is really good. He doesn’t have too many misses.”
According to FanGraphs, Ohtani has thrown 42.9% of his pitches in the strike zone so far, which is league-average. However, despite batters swinging at 73.3% of his pitches, he has recorded twice as many strikeouts (10) as hits allowed (5) in his first nine innings pitched.
What’s most surprising is that the Japanese star went nearly two years without pitching, from August 2023 until this June, recovering from a second elbow surgery. Yet, he still won the 2024 MVP Award after a historic season as a hitter.
“I guess we shouldn’t be surprised because it’s Shohei,” Kershaw added. “But it’s been impressive – really impressive.”
Ohtani is following a minor league pitcher rehabilitation schedule but performing like a Major League starter. In his first five appearances, he has pitched 1, 1, 2, 2, and 3 innings.
Yet, he seamlessly transitions from pitching to hitting, as is his custom, while also calling his own pitches-something Kershaw revealed is extremely difficult and that he’s unsure he could do himself.
If Kershaw recognizes it, and several baseball figures confirm it, we’re witnessing a potentially unique phenomenon who will soon enter-or already is part of-the MLB GOAT conversation.
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