Baseball fans react to improvements in Shohei Ohtani’s pitching mechanics since 2018 MLB debut: "He is so special" "Move fast, throw gas"

The fact that Los Angeles Angels hitter/pitcher Shohei Ohtani is one of the best players in Major League Baseball is not lost on followers of the game.

MLB analyst Rob Friedman noted the improvements in Ohtani's pitching delivery since his American debut in 2018. The adjustments seem to show why the 28-year-old is becoming a more dominant hurler with each passing season.

Fans continue to be in awe of what Shohei Ohtani shows in the severe pitching and hitting threat he continues to be five seasons after debuting in the MLB.

Ohtani underwent Tommy John Surgery late in the 2018 season after being diagnosed with damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right throwing arm. He made just 10 starts that year before being taken off the mound and restricted to designated hitter. He also held the position throughout 2019 as he recovered.

Ohtani pitched in just two games in the COVID-19-shortened season of 2020, logging an 0-1 record and a bloated 37.80 ERA in just 1-2/3 innings of work. However, he returned to the mound in 2021 and showed that he wasn't just a hitter that could pitch as a novelty.

Shohei Ohtani went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts in 23 starts in 2021. Last season, he improved to 15-9 with a 2.40 ERA and 219 strikeouts.

Shohei Ohtani unlike anything baseball has seen before

Shohei Ohtani continues to improve off the mound as he steadily increases the number of games in which he contributes as a hitter -- 155 games in 2021, and 157 in 2022.

Ohtani won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2018, hitting .285 with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs. He was named the AL Most Valuable Player in 2021 after recording a .273/.356/.519 slash line with 46 homers and 100 RBIs.

Last season, he was second to New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in the AL MVP voting. He put up great numbers at the plate, hitting .273 with 34 homers and 95 RBIs while continuing to improve his pitching statistics. He also posted a 9.6 WAR last year, making him the second-best player in the league. His career WAR is 24.8.

About the author

Born in Minneapolis, Minn., Tom has covered sports since 2004. Tom grew up a fan of the Chicago Cubs because his dad didn't like the hometown Twins playing indoors. He goes to Wrigley Field several times a year. His favorite sports moment was being at Wrigley when the Cubs won the 2016 National League Pennant.

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