As MLB’s one-in-a-million unicorn, it seems like every step on the field is history-making for Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese phenom’s game Wednesday against the Mariners was no different, even if the footnote, in this case, was more of a curiosity than a remarkable achievement.
In the first inning of his second start for the Angels, Ohtani was called for a pitch clock violation on the mound, awarding a ball to batter Cal Raleigh. Then, in the sixth inning, he took too long to step into the batter’s box, awarding a strike to reliever Matt Brash. In doing so, he became the first player in MLB history to receive a pitching and hitting violation in the same game.
Ohtani is far from the first player to fall victim to MLB’s new pitch clock rules, which were instituted in order to increase the pace of play and shorten game times. They have been extremely effective, with a game between the Marlins and Twins on April 4 finishing in less than two hours, but players have also struggled to adjust to the new limitations.
Because Ohtani spent much of the preseason playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, which did not use a pitch clock, he has not had as much time to adjust to the new rules. Other WBC players have had similar experiences, as an odd delay on Opening Day between Jeff McNeil at the plate and Pete Alonso on first base led the umpires to erroneously call a strike on McNeil.
Though Ohtani’s pitch clock violations became the story following the game, his performance on the mound and plate eventually secured the Angels a 4-3 victory. The 2021 MVP struggled on the mound early, walking two and allowing a run in the first, but eventually settled down to strike out eight batters while allowing just three hits in six innings of work.
“Locating my fastball [was the key],” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “When I was able to throw more fastballs mid-count for strikes, it made everything a lot easier.”
Ohtani also walked twice at the plate and drove in a key insurance run in the seventh. Pitch clock adjustments will come in time, but the versatile star continues to propel the Angels in all aspects.
