The Angels introduced Shohei Ohtani at a press conference on Saturday:
The general manager, Billy Eppler, has known for a while that Ohtani, 23, could handle the glare. He said he had watched Ohtani play 10 times since 2013, when he debuted for the Nippon-Ham Fighters, showcasing the two-way talent that captivated suitors overseas. As he listened to Ohtani respond to questions with modesty and flashes of humor on Saturday, at an event that with its cheering and chanting fans resembled a pep rally more than an introductory news conference, Eppler observed how Ohtani seemed to slow down the moment.
“That’s usually a sign of somebody with a high degree of concentration and a high degree of focus,” Eppler said. “And that’s what we’ve seen from him when he pitches, and that’s what we’ve seen from him when he hits.”
He will be a two-way player, with Albert Pujols moving back to first base so Ohtani can DH. The exact plan on when he will pitch and when he will hit is still under consideration.
I suspect the two-way use won’t last more than a season. Baseball is very specialized. If the Angels feel that batting preparation is hurting Ohtani’s pitching preparation, the batting preparation will stop.
It might also stop because of Pujols. There is a lot of money tied up in the star, and if the Angels want to keep him in the lineup, they need to keep him healthy. He’s a lot more likely to stay healthy at DH than first base.
from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2kPTb8h
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