Even though he avoided pitching due to ligament damage…Shohei Ohtani, the hitter, “puts pressure on the opposing team with strikeouts” Amazing Swing!

Shohei Ohtani (29) of the Angels was diagnosed with medial collateral ligament damage in his right elbow on August 24. He is not expected to pitch this season as a pitcher, but the impact on hitters seems to be minimal. In the second game of the doubleheader against the Reds on the same day, he played as the “No. 2 DH” and hit a double in the fifth inning. I would like to introduce the greatness of “Ohtani the hitter” from the perspective of “strikeouts.

More than half a century ago, there was a time when the public was fascinated by the full swing of “Mr. Professional Baseball” Shigeo Nagashima and his slipping helmet.

Even his strikeouts were picturesque. You don’t see men like that anymore.

A teammate at the time once told FRIDAY, “Such a man has emerged. He is Shohei Ohtani, 29, of the Angels.

As of August 22, Ohtani has recorded 133 strikeouts, the 10th most in the A-League. His strikeouts, in which he swings wildly and without hesitation, and then looks frustrated like a little boy, have a charm that is as appealing as his home runs.

(Sports newspaper desk) “While maintaining a batting average of 30%, Otani strikes out more than 100 times. This phenomenon, which may seem inexplicable, hides Otani’s greatness.

When a normal player is forced into a corner to avoid strikeouts, he tends to hold his bat short or take a more compact swing. However, Ohtani waits until the last pitch to hit, and even if he misses his read, he sticks to his own swing and does not try to force a hit.

Therefore, opposing pitchers think, “I just got a strikeout on paper, but my timing was right,” and they avoid the same aggressive approach out of fear. The result is more sweet pitches and more home runs and runs batted in. Ohtani’s strikeouts are not only beautiful, but also a frightening technique that puts pressure on the opposing team,” said Takeshi Yamazaki, who has hit a total of 403 home runs.

Behind the home runs he has accumulated, Otani’s “quality strikeouts” have contributed to the success of the team.

From the September 8, 2023 issue of FRIDAY