Ohtani plays OF in same game after 10-K performance
Shohei Ohtani showed why he's labeled a unicorn after switching from pitching to playing right field during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros on Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Angels' two-way star made the position switch in the same game for the first time in his major-league career:
This #Sho is getting GOOD#WeBelieve I @Angels pic.twitter.com/zi6asPjXMi
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) May 12, 2021
Before moving to the outfield, Ohtani dominated the Astros with 10 strikeouts over seven innings while allowing just one earned run on four hits:
All 10 Ks from now right fielder Shohei Ohtani tonight. pic.twitter.com/4jEWtxdcax
— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) May 12, 2021
"Ohtani is an incredible human being. He's really one in a million," Astros slugger Yuli Gurriel said postgame, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.
The 2018 AL Rookie of the Year is the first player to strike out at least 10 batters and play in the outfield in the same game since Harvey Haddix on September 28, 1952, according to Evan Boyd of Stats By STATS.
Ohtani also collected a single in three at-bats while pitching before the defensive switch. He struck out in his fourth time up to bat in the ninth as a right fielder.