(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Guess what?
Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani made the record books, once again.
It shouldn’t even be surprising at this point: this guy is so good and so relevant to the history of the game that the odds of him breaking a record or making history any given night are extremely high.
Of course, that happens when you are this good at both hitting and pitching, two completely different activities within the game of baseball.
No one is trained to do both at the highest level, yet he not only does them, but is among the best in the league at both.
On Wednesday, Ohtani beat the San Francisco Giants and reached a 10-5 record as a pitcher in 2023.
He only conceded an unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings to earn the victory against a hot team.
In the process, he became the owner of a unique distinction.
“Players with 40 home runs as a batter and 10 wins as a pitcher in a season in MLB history: Shohei Ohtani (2023),” ESPN Stats & Info tweeted.
Players with 40 home runs as a batter and 10 wins as a pitcher in a season in MLB history:
Shohei Ohtani (2023). pic.twitter.com/gm1tfgSbwB
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 10, 2023
Perhaps Babe Ruth could have done this if he kept pitching during his golden slugging years, but he didn’t.
Ohtani has, though.
He is up to 10 wins on the mound and already has 40 homers this year, and we aren’t even in the middle of August.
He could be a 15-50 guy (wins and homers) if he remains healthy.
For those wondering about his MVP-winning season in 2021, he did hit 46 homers but was stuck on nine wins as a pitcher.
Last year, he did win 15 games, but hit “just” 34 round-trippers.
This season, it has all come together for him at least in those two statistical categories.
What a player.
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