SHOHEI OHTANI NEWS

Angels aim for stars with Trout, Ohtani, Rendon all healthy

The Los Angeles Angels’ two AL Most Valuable Players are both fully healthy

MARCH 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

If Shohei Ohtani stays healthy and productive, does any other player have a shot at AL MVP? Can anyone other than Ohtani win the AL MVP in 2022? Or 2023? Or 2024?

MARCH 29, 2022 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Set for leadoff role Ohtani will serve as the Angels' leadoff hitter to begin the regular season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Impact Ohtani has hit from the leadoff spot for the majority of spring training, and he's delivered a .455 on-base percentage across 11 plate appearances. He spent the majority of the 2021 season hitting either second or third, so his shift up the order will not be drastic. However, it will give him the opportunity to maximize volume, of particular importance if he receives days off when he takes the mound.

MARCH 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Slated to pitch Thursday Ohtani will make his next Cactus League start Thursday against Milwaukee, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Ohtani was scratched from his scheduled start as a pitcher Saturday, but manager Joe Maddon reiterated that the move wasn't due to an injury or fatigue. Ohtani is expected to be built up to around 90 pitches by Opening Day, and he simply preferred to start Thursday as he continues his spring progression.

MARCH 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Next start lined up Ohtani will make his next start in the Cactus League on Thursday against the Brewers, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Impact Ohtani was originally in line to pitch Saturday, though the decision for him to not take the mound is not injury or fatigue related. Manager Joe Maddon also noted that he expects Ohtani to be stretched out to 90 pitches for Opening Day, so he should be in line for a fairly typical workload.

MARCH 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

No longer pitching Saturday Ohtani will no longer serve as the starting pitcher in Saturday's Cactus League game against the White Sox, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Impact Ohtani's scratch from his scheduled start wasn't due to an injury, and he's still slated to serve as the designated hitter Saturday. It's not yet clear when the right-hander will make his next spring start on the mound, but he was officially named the team's Opening Day starter Friday.

MARCH 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Two-way star Ohtani chosen as Angels' opening day pitcher

The full Shohei Ohtani experience will be on display when the Los Angeles Angels take the field on opening day

MARCH 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shohei Ohtani named Angels' Opening Day starter Shohei Ohtani's next accolade will arrive on the first day of the 2022 season: the two-way phenom will be the Los Angeles Angels' Opening Da...

MARCH 25, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Ohtani named Angels' Opening Day starter Shohei Ohtani, the reigning American League MVP Award winner, will be the Angels' Opening Day starter when they take the field on April 7 ag...

MARCH 25, 2022 • MLB.COM

Named Opening Day starter Ohtani was officially named the Angels' Opening Day starter Friday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Impact In past years, the honor could potentially have gone to offseason addition Noah Syndergaard, but Ohtani is the clear choice following a season in which he struck out 29.3 percent of opposing batters en route to a 3.18 ERA. He'll face the Astros at home to open the season April 7 and then likely the Rangers in Texas a week later, with the Angels again expected to use a six-man rotation.

MARCH 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ohtani gives deGrom's windup a spin TEMPE, Ariz. -- Two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani is a man of many talents, and apparently doing impressions of other players is another one o...

MARCH 24, 2022 • MLB.COM

How Shohei Ohtani turns baseball back into child's play Of all the baseball players making millions of dollars “playing a kid’s game,” none are doing so in quite the child-like fashion as Shohei O...

MARCH 24, 2022 • DAILYNEWS.COM

After a Hard Off-Season, the Angels Get Back to Baseball A team with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani — and very little on-field success — spent the winter dealing with the lockout and a messy trial ov...

MARCH 24, 2022 • NYTIMES.COM

Maddon on reported 'Ohtani rule': 'It's wonderful news' PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Angels were hopeful the introduction of the designated hitter in both leagues would include a rule change that would al...

MARCH 23, 2022 • MLB.COM

Ghost runner, 'Shohei Ohtani Rule' among changes MLB is expected to approve Owners will vote next week on proposals for the 2022 season.

MARCH 23, 2022 • SUNTIMES.COM

Report: MLB, MLBPA Agree to Expand Rosters, 'Shohei Ohtani Rule' MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to several rule changes, including one that benefits the game’s biggest star.

MARCH 23, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

'Shohei Ohtani rule' will allow Angels star to stay at DH after exiting as a pitcher MLB and the players agreed to a rule that will allow pitchers like Shohei Ohtani who hit to remain in the game as the designated hitter afte...

MARCH 23, 2022 • LATIMES.COM

M.L.B. Creates 'Ohtani Rule' to Keep Star's Bat in Games A new rule will allow a pitcher who bats for himself to stay in a game as the designated hitter when he is finished pitching.

MARCH 23, 2022 • NYTIMES.COM

Inspired by Mike Trout, Cubs' Seiya Suzuki ready to begin MLB career

Pedro Moura details Cubs OF Seiya Suzuki's journey to the big leagues, inspired by none other than Mike Trout.

MARCH 22, 2022

'Shohei Ohtani Rule:' How new CBA will benefit Angels, Ohtani, and fans -- maybe not opponents The new rule will let Shohei Ohtani stay in the batting order even after he's done pitching.

MARCH 22, 2022 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

AP source: MLB, players agree to keep zombie runner for '22

Automatic runners in extra innings are sticking around for a third straight season

MARCH 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Benefits from new DH rule MLB and the Players Association agreed to a rule Tuesday that will allow Ohtani to remain in the lineup as the designated hitter even once he's done pitching, Joel Sherman of the...

Impact According to Sherman, "the new rule stipulates that if the starting pitcher is also hitting in the lineup, then that player remains as the DH even if he is pulled from the start." Ohtani will now maintain his full value as a hitter on days where he pitches, as a shortened start on the mound won't affect his at-bats. It's also a huge boost for the Angels, which were previously forced to abandon the designated hitter once Ohtani was done pitching for the day.

MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ohtani happy with first pitching performance of spring TEMPE, Ariz. -- Two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani 's first start of the spring went exactly to plan, as he threw 2 1/3 strong innings and struck...

MARCH 22, 2022 • MLB.COM