.ggWmAj .sticky-header__share button{font-weight:600;}/*!sc*/ You saw the swing and miss or the weak contact. @Neil_Paine, MLB (783 posts) Shohei Ohtani strikes out 10, but goes winless in consecutive starts as the Angels lose to the Oakland Athletics in Sundays series finale. #Angels 3 Shohei Ohtani Retweeted He lost control in the second inning, but good pitchers get those outs when they need.\n\nFujinami came away from the outing with things to work on for the next time out. That appearance came on the heels of an eight-RBI game for Ohtani, which set the record for the most RBIs driven home in a game in history. If you read the scouting reports written before Ohtanis debut, pitching was always supposed to be his strongest suit. .kwDmpG{display:block;font-weight:500;}/*!sc*/ He is fifth in pitcher WAR and has a 1.74 ERA. I want to keep on throwing I think every time I throw, I learn something and get better, Ohtani said. .hspSPq svg{padding-top:1px;vertical-align:top;fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group-title{color:#aaaaaa;font-weight:700;font-size:12px;background-color:#ffffff;text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ You read that right. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container{-webkit-order:99;-ms-flex-order:99;order:99;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex:99 1 100%;-ms-flex:99 1 100%;flex:99 1 100%;width:100%;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search-item a{bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%;}/*!sc*/ As a pitcher who is known to throw well over 100 miles per hour, Ohtani's fastball is a major money-maker for him. Sports News Without Fear, Favor or Compromise. small{font-size:80%;}/*!sc*/ .sczZi{border-bottom:1px solid #dddddd;border-top:1px solid #dddddd;font-size:1rem;margin:32px 16px;padding:32px 0;}/*!sc*/ Ohtani was definitely feeling the splitter on Sunday. The most shocking thing about Ohtanis splitter is that he doesnt use it more than 18.5% of the time. .mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club] .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__tagline img,.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-microsite] .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__tagline img{height:56px;max-width:512px;line-height:56px;}/*!sc*/ Right now, though, Ohtani is winning that battle on the mound. That early? Maddon said after a 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Oakland Athletics in Angel Stadium. His splitter usage is up 11% from 2020. .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team:first-of-type:before{content:'Teams';}/*!sc*/ .hUHmCp{margin-top:24px;background-color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-url-logos > *{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;}/*!sc*/ Shohei Ohtani's spring plans set despite unknown future February 4, 2023 | 10:50pm Though Shohei Ohtani's. In January 2019, Ohtani visited a sick infant named Shohei Kawasaki to offer encouragement as the child's family faced a crisis -- struggling to raise funds for the 1-year-old boy's heart. The early results should certainly encourage Ohtani to keep throwing sinkers down the stretch. Shohei Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge: Who Deserves the AL MVP? On the first point, Rendon has now only appeared in nine games this year. His stuffs good enough. But I know Japanese fans were looking forward to us facing each other. Will Democrats Rally Behind President Biden In 2024? .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span{display:block;position:absolute;height:2px;width:24px;background:#ffffff;opacity:1;-webkit-transform:rotate(0deg);-ms-transform:rotate(0deg);transform:rotate(0deg);-webkit-transition:all 250ms ease-in-out;transition:all 250ms ease-in-out;border-radius:3px;}/*!sc*/ First, Ohtani throws a low-spin fastball, and pitches with low spin rates tend to complement sinkers, because they result in more ground balls. Ohtanis split-finger fastball in particular might be the nastiest pitch in baseball so far this season. Ohtani has ramped up his splitter velocity this season, and that's made it filthier than ever. It comes straight at the hitter, with barely any horizontal movement. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{display:none;}/*!sc*/ His splitter also comes straight at the hitter -- but then the bottom drops out. Follow Ohtani grip guidelines at home, and perhaps soon you will be pitching with an MVP-level arm. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(1){top:0px;}/*!sc*/ Shohei Ohtani Unleashed With the so-called Ohtani rules junked, the Angels' "super freak" is dominating as a hitter and a pitcher. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular-italic.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular-italic.woff') format('woff');font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ Hitters swung at Ohtani's splitter a total of 95 times in 2018. That Ohtani surpassed the 100-inning mark, a threshold no other Angels pitcher will reach this season, seems remarkable for a 27-year-old who did not pitch in 2019 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and was limited by elbow problems to 1 2/3 innings in two games in 2020. @media (min-width:1024px){article > header{padding:0;}}/*!sc*/ .hHLkAw input:focus{outline:none;}/*!sc*/ The only other hit on Ohtani's splitter was a double by Nick Castellanos on May 30. @media (max-width:350px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item__link .icon__nav-item{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ Oh my, Juan Lagares! .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item{color:#222222;background-color:#ffffff;font-size:14px;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ It's been too long. Ohtani's four-seamer has only 3.3 inches of horizontal movement, and his splitter has only 5.4 inches of horizontal movement. @media screen and (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover span{color:#ffffff;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}}/*!sc*/ .fuMUTu rect{fill:#ffffff;stroke:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g147[id="Styles__MarkdownContainer-dxqlie-0"]{content:"eJdqRG,"}/*!sc*/ The reigning MVP getting even better just in time to make a push for back-to-back trophies? @media (min-width:768px){.epHHrr{max-width:500px;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g158[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Message-sc-d7sh2p-3"]{content:"evwvnJ,"}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-icon{width:25px;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ In his 12 home starts this season, Ohtani has pitched to a miniscule 2.02 ERA, striking out 83 batters in 71.1 innings while allowing just a .194 opposing batting average. The first grip that Ohtani is prompted to show is his fastball grip. .kKeedG:hover{border-bottom:none;color:#0048AB;}/*!sc*/ Shohei Ohtani Doing It All (Two Way Player) 2021 Highlights Ohtani boasts a 154 wRC+ and a 163 ERA+, which means that per those metrics, he's been more than 50 percent better than average on. .bZhBFV{margin:0 auto 16px;}/*!sc*/ Hitters are striking out in 90% of their plate appearances against the Ohtani split. .dLQAwR .contributor__text--twitter{font-size:0.8rem;font-weight:600;}/*!sc*/ He makes adjustments constantly, but the biggest difference from when I first saw him last year to now is overall command of all of his pitches.. Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani tosses the ball while on the mound against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Shohei was on the other side -- who is one of the best players in the world, Emerson said. Please logout and login again. As a pitcher, he carried a perfect game into the seventh inning of his start Sunday, finishing the game with 12 strikeouts tied for the most of any starter in a game so far this year. It's the difference you'd hope for. .kwDmpG input{box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px;}/*!sc*/ There are only four pitches in baseball right now that hitters have gone hitless against in 20 or more plate appearances: Ohtani's splitter, Dustin May's curveball, Carlos Rodn's slider and Will Smith's slider. Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels came out with a video explaining his pitching strategy in just 43 seconds. That also shows Ohtani's not afraid to use his new pitch against the contenders of the American League -- so even though he's thrown only a handful of sinkers so far, be on the lookout for it when he starts against the Astros on Saturday at Angel Stadium. Shohei Ohtani, 3 Ks in the 1st inning (all Filthy Splitters). .eJdqRG a:hover{color:#0048AB;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo img{width:auto;min-height:31px;max-height:31px;height:100%;}/*!sc*/ Shohei Ohtani, a fearsome pitcher AND prodigious hitter in Japan, announced his ambitions to take his dual talents to the Majors. .drUhS rect{fill:#000000;stroke:#000000;}/*!sc*/ See Shohei Ohtani and his unfair splitters. sub{bottom:-0.25em;}/*!sc*/ He hit 101 three times in his rookie season, which is still the most of any starter since his debut, even with Ohtani not pitching for all of 2019. Ohtani should be throwing his best pitch more than 18.5% of the time. .ebrWqN:-moz-loading{color:#f3f3f3;}/*!sc*/ If he gets two more starts, youre going to be more comfortable getting him to 150 innings next year.. As a pitcher who is known to throw well over 100 miles per hour, Ohtani's fastball is a major money-maker for him. @media (min-width:375px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--shortname{display:none;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--name{display:inline-block;}}/*!sc*/ .dLQAwR:not(:last-child){border-right:1px dashed #ccc;}/*!sc*/ Ohtani, who ranks third in the American League with 44 homers and is in the thick of the AL most valuable player race, has no desire to ease his workload in the final two weeks of the season. Shohei Ohtani's Resume. Be the first one to comment on this story. .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team + .p-search-item--player.p-search-item--es:before{content:'Jugadores';}/*!sc*/ I know that Fuji wants to be a special player. I felt really good in the first inning, but I was trying to do too much in the second, Fujinami said through interpreter Issei Kamada. Ohtani had his off-speed pitches working all night. All of them are nasty. He has given up 93 hits and held opponents to a .208 average. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item__link{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;font-weight:700;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;padding:10px 12px;}/*!sc*/ The right-hander induced 17 swinging strikes and two called strikes with the pitch, which averaged 89.2 mph, and he struck out the side Seth Brown, Yan Gomes and Elvis Andrus with splitters in the seventh. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__url-logo a{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;}/*!sc*/ This ranks Ohtanis cutter second to last among all cut-fastballs in run value. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__subnav{height:100%;overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:auto;overscroll-behavior:contain;touch-action:manipulation;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(1),.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(4){opacity:0;}/*!sc*/ .iwXciG{display:inline-block;}/*!sc*/ .hUHmCp > article{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(12,minmax(0,1fr));grid-gap:24px;color:#000000;}/*!sc*/ He has a great feel for what hes doing out there. For the season, Ohtani is getting whiffs on 57% of swings on the splitter and 37% whiffs from the slider. Thats it.. Millions of unique designs by independent artists. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item:focus a{outline:1px dotted #fff;}/*!sc*/ Its understandable if Fujinami might have wanted to put on a show. Ohtani has posted an ERA of under three this year, so perhaps it bears paying attention. .hHLkAw input.left{padding-left:32px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g29[id="linkstyle__AnchorElement-sc-1rt6me7-0"]{content:"kKeedG,"}/*!sc*/ .ihHuHi{font-size:19px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:8px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g100[id="styles__SearchWidgetContainer-sc-1vorjk3-0"]{content:"fYCiRB,"}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:italic;}/*!sc*/ Ditching the cutter and utilizing the splitter more may just be the change that could take Ohtani to the next level as a pitcher. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side__nav-item[aria-expanded='true']{-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;}/*!sc*/ Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Oakland Athletics, Shaikin: Is Major League Baseball really dying? .eJdqRG a{color:#057AFF;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ Twitter Web App 224 Retweets 50 Quote Tweets 1,654 Likes Rob Friedman @PitchingNinja Sep 20, 2021 Replying to @PitchingNinja For some color: For the year, he's averaged 5 inches. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos > *{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;}/*!sc*/ This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. MLB. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav ::-webkit-scrollbar-track,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb{background:transparent;}/*!sc*/ The more I catch him and the more we work together, the more Im going to start to think like him, Langeliers said. Hes working so hard this camp to prove to not only other people, but to himself, that he is this type of player. A change in pitch usage could take Shohei Ohtani's game (on the mound) to the next level. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:focus,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:hover{border-radius:3px;background-color:#dddddd;color:#002867;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:56px;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;-webkit-flex:99 1 45%;-ms-flex:99 1 45%;flex:99 1 45%;}/*!sc*/ First time over here, you know the eyes are on you. .groqnz.markdown,.groqnz.photo figcaption,.groqnz.oembed .social-embed{padding:0 16px;}/*!sc*/ .XOHMa{bottom:0;left:0;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;}/*!sc*/ With his sinker averaging 16 inches of run from left to right, those two pitches can diverge by 30 inches if he starts them out in the same spot. (So much for those shaky spring training stats, huh?) Based on data from ESPNs Stats & Information Group, he has thrown the splitter 58 times, and its already generated 13 strikeouts; only Houstons Lance McCullers (curveball) and Arizonas Patrick Corbin (slider) have gotten more Ks on a single pitch than Ohtani has gotten with his splitter so far. This season, it's averaging 14.1 inches of sweep from right to left, which is 7.9 inches above average -- fifth best among all sliders. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__content{-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:focus{outline:1px dotted #041E42;}/*!sc*/ That's crazy. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(2){-webkit-transform:rotate(45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(45deg);transform:rotate(45deg);}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx{height:30px;position:relative;width:30px;}/*!sc*/ Perhaps the most fascinating story in baseball is Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels' two-way phenomenon who is making his mark as both a hitter and a pitcher. .mHQYb body.side-nav-open{position:fixed;overflow:hidden;overscroll-behavior:none;touch-action:none;}/*!sc*/ Hitters started the year 0-for-42 with 30 strikeouts against Ohtani's splitter. data-styled.g146[id="Styles__StickyHeadline-sc-1wye7kw-2"]{content:"cHcHkC,"}/*!sc*/ Even before Shohei Ohtani became the star of baseball this season, his teammates knew there was something special about him on and off the field. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon{background:none;padding:0px;width:24px;height:18px;position:relative;margin:0px auto;-webkit-transform:rotate(0deg);-ms-transform:rotate(0deg);transform:rotate(0deg);-webkit-transition:0.5s ease-in-out;transition:0.5s ease-in-out;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ Shohei Ohtani, Nasty 91mph Splitterand Pitching with Emotion. .mHQYb .p-search__list--sm{font-size:12px;min-width:150px;}/*!sc*/ button,select{text-transform:none;}/*!sc*/ Of the 108 pitches he threw in an eight-inning, two-run, five-hit, 10-strikeout effort, 55 were splitters, the most thrown in a game by any pitcher since 2008, per Statcast. .dLQAwR a{color:#057AFF;}/*!sc*/ Ohhhh . h5.headlinestyle__HeadlineWrapper-sc-1ccyctx-0{font-weight:normal;}/*!sc*/ Ohtani already had at least one standout metric on all five of his pitches -- his four-seamer's velo, his splitter's drop, his slider's sweep, his cutter's cut and his curveball's two-direction movement. Watch the following highlight reel of his strikeouts, and notice that six of the nine hitters he sat down whiffed on his split-fingered fastball, which flies in at around 88 mph and drops precipitously out of the frame at the last second. Learn how to pitch like Shohei Ohtani in 43 seconds, best back-to-back performance in MLB history. .fAmXvR{background:#f3f3f3;border-radius:6px;color:#444444;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-weight:500;padding:16px 16px 24px;}/*!sc*/ A voice from behind the camera asks Ohtani to grip each ball as if he were to throw a different pitch each time. Aside from the subtle differences in the gameplay @media screen and (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item:hover{background-color:#057AFF;}}/*!sc*/ In anticipation of any miscommunication that could arise while working together for the first time, Langeliers sat down with Fujinami for lunch before the game and mapped out a plan for how they wanted to approach hitters. summary{display:list-item;}/*!sc*/ I thought this game showed Japanese fans some good entertainment.","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"PhotoPart","caption":null,"contextualCaption":null,"contextualAspectRatio":null,"credit":null,"format":"jpg","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/v1677631799/mlb/v4ook8ooawv5ux123nfj","type":"photo"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Theres a strong chance Fujinami will face the Angels again in about a month -- the As open the regular season March 30 by hosting the Angels for a three-game series at the Coliseum. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav .scroll-buffer,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__subnav .scroll-buffer{padding-bottom:200px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group-title{display:block;padding:10px;width:100%;-webkit-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid;word-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;}/*!sc*/ . @media (min-width:768px){.cHcHkC{font-size:1.44rem;max-height:32px;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap;display:block;-webkit-line-clamp:none;-webkit-box-orient:inline-axis;}.cHcHkC::before,.cHcHkC::after{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ He's averaging 89.9 mph on the split-finger in 2021, up over two-and-a-half ticks from the 87.3 mph he averaged as a rookie in 2018.\n\nHe's routinely throwing splitters in the low 90s -- 11 of his 23 swinging strikes have been on splitters 90 mph or faster, as have 11 of his 18 K's. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo{-webkit-flex:0 1 auto;-ms-flex:0 1 auto;flex:0 1 auto;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;text-align:left;height:56px;padding:0 16px 0 0;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search-item__team-logo--container{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;margin-left:auto;}/*!sc*/ header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open{position:fixed;top:0px;z-index:99992;}/*!sc*/ .hHLkAw input.right{padding-right:32px;}/*!sc*/ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. But in the middle of the \\[second inning\\] I got the feel back.\n\nIn anticipation of any miscommunication that could arise while working together for the first time, Langeliers sat down with Fujinami for lunch before the game and mapped out a plan for how they wanted to approach hitters. data-styled.g142[id="Share-sc-1t9fdg-0"]{content:"koKsQt,"}/*!sc*/ sup{top:-0.5em;}/*!sc*/ Shohei Ohtani threw a nasty split-fingered fastball in the first inning on Sunday that raised the eyebrows of Angels manager Joe Maddon, who is not used to seeing his two-way star go to his. Special accommodations even had to be made at Hohokam for the larger-than-usual media contingent, which included 40 members of Japanese media. .hspSPq svg path{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ I think its consistent with the whole attitude we had all year, where Im not gonna kind of baby him, Im just going to let him go out there and play baseball, Maddon said before the game. Your login session has expired. The SF Giants face Angels ace Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday in Anaheim OAKLAND, CA - MAY 27: Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) smiles at fans while walking to the dugout before the. window.adobeAnalytics = {"reportingSuiteId":"mlbglobal08,mlbcom08","linkInternalFilters":"mlb"} Grip firmly. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-semibold.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-semibold.woff') format('woff');font-weight:600;font-style:normal;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ The main stream sports media didn't show that though, they blew that whole situation out of proportion. #react-header{width:100%;}/*!sc*/ That cutter gave him five different nasty pitches, adding to his four-seamer, splitter, slider and curve. .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-selector--active{background-color:#4c8cee;}/*!sc*/ Hes based on feel. He's got a good arm. Combien gagne t il d argent ? He's averaging 89.9 mph on the split-finger in 2021, up over two-and-a-half ticks from the 87.3 mph he averaged as a rookie in 2018. .blUWSx .share-button{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;background:none;border:none;padding:0;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ In 2021, it was the cutter he introduced in April and started throwing regularly in mid-May. Ohtani has ramped up his splitter velocity this season, and that's made it filthier than ever. .mHQYb .p-search__input{-webkit-appearance:none;position:relative;height:40px;font-family:'mlb-primary','Helvetica Neue','Helvetica','Arial', sans-serif;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.075);color:#000;font-size:16px;width:100%;min-width:250px;background-color:#ffffff;border:0px;border-radius:6px;padding:0.25rem 1rem;line-height:1.42857143;margin-bottom:2px;}/*!sc*/ Professional debut; NPB: March 29, 2013, for the Hokkaid Nippon-Ham Fighters MLB: March 29, 2018, for the Los Angeles Angels NPB statistics (through 2017 season) Win-loss record: 42-15: Earned run average: 2.52: Strikeouts: 624: Batting average.286: Home runs .ebrWqN{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;background-color:#f3f3f3;border-radius:50%;-webkit-border-radius:50%;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav ::-webkit-scrollbar{width:0px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g160[id="newsletterOptinstyle__InputWrapper-sc-d7sh2p-5"]{content:"hYmwpY,"}/*!sc*/ Im going to be pitching next year and beyond, so I think this whole experience is gonna help me down the road. Well, here are the highlights: 59 batters had plate appearances decided on Ohtani's splitter in 2018. html{font-size:16px;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;}/*!sc*/ You'll be nervous. Greta Thunberg carried away by police AGAIN. Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani has multiple weapons on the mound, but his trademark is his splitter. Ohtani's splitter gets almost 34 inches of vertical drop compared to only 14 inches of vertical drop on his four-seamer, so it . .mHQYb header.mlb-header .icon{display:inline-block;-webkit-align-self:center;-ms-flex-item-align:center;align-self:center;line-height:20px;}/*!sc*/ body.article .ad-top-container{background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:8px 0;min-height:66px;}/*!sc*/ From the opposing side, Fujinami left a strong first impression. Thats the highest whiff rate for any pitcher since 2006, when PITCHf/x began tracking pitch data. .fFwXhn{margin:0;}/*!sc*/ Shohei Ohtani's Splitter Is What Makes Him Truly Great The Angels phenom has put up eye-popping statistics, but the effectiveness of his best pitch stands out. That's just as a hitter. .blUWSx .share-list__item{position:absolute;}/*!sc*/ Ohtani's splitter is generating the highest swing-and-miss rate of any individual pitch in MLB. Jul 9, 2021 Time to get to work! In the middle of an MVP race, Ohtani started throwing a new pitch. It is a purely _vertical_ splitter, which looks almost identical to his four-seam fastball until it doesn't.\n\nOhtani throws a true four-seamer. h1.Styles__HeadlineContainer-sc-19rm04l-0{font-size:2.074rem;margin-bottom:8px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g139[id="Styles__ContributorContainer-sc-9g3k0d-0"]{content:"dLQAwR,"}/*!sc*/ But I know Japanese fans were looking forward to us facing each other. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__tagline{margin-right:auto;display:none;}/*!sc*/ They've whiffed on 17 of those swings. Imagine being a hitter who has to tell those two pitches apart -- especially when Ohtani's fastball is coming in at 100-plus mph, and his splitter, an "offspeed" pitch, is coming in at 90-plus mph. Shohei Ohtani is having a Ruthian MLB season The NHL playoffs are underway, the NBA play-in tournament has begun and the WNBA is enjoying an electrifying start to its season, but Shohei.