Shohei Ohtani to bat, pitch in same historic game for Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is both pitching and hitting for the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday night for the first time since the two-way star moved to the majors.

Ohtani even took the No. 2 slot in the Angels' lineup while he also made his first mound start of the season against the Chicago White Sox.

Ohtani is just the third pitcher over the last 45 seasons to hit for himself in a game with the designated hitter available. He's also the first pitcher to bat second for a team since Jack Dunleavy did it for the St. Louis Cardinals on Sept. 7, 1903.

“Don’t you love it?” Angels manager Joe Maddon asked. “This was him deciding that he could do this. ... When he came over, this is what he wanted to do. This is why he signed up. Everybody clamored for him because of this particular reason, so I think it’s important that we give him this opportunity to do that and see how it plays out.”

No Angels pitcher had ever hit for himself in a game with the designated hitter available since the rule was implemented in the AL in 1973.

Ohtani is the Angels' everyday designated hitter, but the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year is also attempting a full-time return to the starting rotation. Ohtani made just two starts over the past two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Angels previously have held Ohtani out of games on the day before and the day after he pitches, but Ohtani also played against Chicago on Saturday night, going 1 for 4 as the designated hitter. The Angels are trying new ways to focus Ohtani's mental approach in his difficult job, and Maddon thinks being in the batting lineup might help his pitcher.

“Theoretically, I thought that would be a residue positive component of him being able to do both,” Maddon said. “Just go pitch, then go hit,...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Shohei-Ohtani-to-bat-pitch-in-same-historic-game-16076539.php