Shohei Ohtani’s legend grew larger on Tuesday when he smacked a batting practice home run so far and so hard that it left a mark on a railing near a rooftop patio at Coors Field.
Sho putting on a show: Ohtani just lifted one into the third deck during BP about 3-4 rows shy of the Rooftop patio at Coors. pic.twitter.com/FEptr9KKDi
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) May 9, 2018
The Twins will get their first test against the 23-year-old phenom when they begin a four-game series against the Angels in Los Angeles on Thursday night.
Ohtani, battling an ankle injury the last 10 days or so, is expected to be the designated hitter for the Angels on Thursday and Friday, resting on Saturday and then starting on the mound against the Twins on Sunday.
Today’s top stories:
– It took Whalen just over 3 weeks to land a big time recruit for the Gophers
– NEW: You can now follow Bring Me The News on Flipboard
– Fleck, Gophers land best DE recruit since the internet era began
A sensation who turned pro in Japan at just 18 years old, Ohtani has lived up to the hype in his first season of Major League Baseball, hitting .344 with four home runs, 14 RBI and an impressive 1.017 OPS.
On the mound, the right-hander has been clocked at 101 mph and is 3-1 with a 4.10 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings.
Throw 101 MPH one day of the week, hit a HR a few days later.
It's what Shohei Ohtani does.
(via @FoxSportsWest) pic.twitter.com/wxUqK1qLYf
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 28, 2018
Making this Twins-Angels series even more of a must-see is that Thursday’s game features Jose Berrios on the mound for the Twins and it’s being nationally televised on Fox Sports 1.
Then on Mother’s Day (Sunday), Ohtani will be opposed on the mound by Twins rookie sensation Fernando Romero, who has 14 strikeouts and has yet to allow a run in 11 2/3 innings.
Oh, and there is that Mike Trout guy who is probably worth tuning in for. He’s putting together another MVP caliber season, hitting .331 with 12 homers and 25 RBI.
