Shohei Ohtani makes his pitching debut

On April 1, 2018 — Three days after being the starting designated hitter on Opening Day in his major league debut, 23-year-old Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani makes his debut on the mound, pitching six innings and striking out six in leading the Angels to a 7 – 4 win over the Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

The only blemish on his ledger is a three-run homer by Matt Chapman in the 2nd. Ohtani is the first player since Babe Ruth in 1919 to start as a position player on opening day and then start a game on the mound within his team’s first ten games. Joe Bush and Clarence Mitchell had also started games on the mound and in the field in their first ten games in 1920.

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