And if he thinks otherwise, its Im gonna do as much as I can to try to convince him to stay. He'll ask, `What's the world record? Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter. Ohtani, the two-way player from Japan who hasn't pitched regularly since the start of the 2018 season, threw against infielders Jared Walsh and Luis Rengifo at the More than pressure, Ive felt like I wanted to have more fun, Ohtani said. So I, as a manager, kind of a steward of his situation, I dont want to tell him what he can or cannot do either. If an extension does not happen this spring, how the Angels finish the year could influence his decision. Before that, the Queens native was a freelancer with bylines in Thrillist and Self Magazine, worked as a production assistant with SNY-TV and MLB.com and briefly was a general assignment reporter for the Bronx Times. The Angels will again attempt to utilize Ohtani as a two-way player, although the club has yet to reveal its official plan for how often hell pitch and serve as designated hitter. :: Spring Training coverage presented by Camping World :. You definitely think about, you know, its been six years since youve been playing and we havent been to a playoffs, Trout said. Right now, there are no limits. I don't want to tell him what he can or can't do. Carlos Estvez knows all about trying out for teams. Maddon said theres also a chance the club could add more pitching before the start of the season despite Spring Training workouts between pitchers and catchers beginning on Wednesday. After his first game experience with the clock, Ohtani acknowledged that hes going to continue trying to adjust to it. Today, I was on time. Ohtani was unable to pitch last season due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but he still made a significant impact as a hitter. Sign up for notifications from Insider! His diet was constantly being monitored and altered by Kei Omae, a registered dietician with the company. If he feels that staying in Anaheim is the right move, he should do that. This was the scene after he finished throwing a bullpen on the first official day of workouts for pitchers and catchers this year. Shohei Ohtani knew coming into spring training that one of his biggest challenges would be the pitch clock. In the meantime, Ohtani served as a designated hitter for the Angels and apparently hit the gym. I felt like its a good idea (to go), Ohtani said Thursday through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Limited in his ability to squat and build up his lower half in recent seasons, he brought his body back up to 225 pounds. "When he trains, he wants to beat the world record. Robles responded by pinching Ohtanis arm, and then wincing and shaking his hand, noting the size of the two brick-like appendages that went viral when Ohtani went sleeveless during one of his biweekly media sessions this week. He previously spent three seasons covering the crosstown Los Angeles Angels for The Athletic. He'll ask, `What's the world record? While Ohtani has always boasted broad shoulders, photos of him at spring training this year have sent fans into a tizzy. I really havent talked to Shohei about his future, but he seems like hes having a good time here.. When his initial physical with the Angels produced a middling result in his vertical leap, he studied YouTube videos before nailing down the proper form. Quite simply, he can throw a 102-mph Its hard for me to say if I was overwhelming [hitters], Ohtani said in Japanese. This proves how fierce of a competitor Ohtani is. Im not gonna go there, Eppler said, But hes just curious. Setting a world record in a workout would And he took part in batting practice sessions against live pitching, something he said he typically does not do prior to spring training, to rebuild his swing after often finding himself off-balance last season. The chanting started after Shohei Ohtani stepped on the ramp to head to the clubhouse. Setting a world record in a workout would definitely qualify, too. I think the changes will be the same for everyone. While Ohtani is still not expected to return to the pitching mound until mid-May, he'll start the year as the Angels designated hitter. He was just off. In October of 2018, he underwent Tommy John surgery, and his rehab was slowed when a genetic condition a bipartite patella required another surgery on his left knee. They compiled a set of adjustments that Balelo said earlier this month was Ohtani really wanting to own his career ahead of what is a critical season, both for his attempt to do what hadnt been done in more than a century but also for the Angels window of contention. But the belief, according to Eppler, is that a thicker base with Ohtanis developed legs, core and shoulders can help reduce the amount of stress on his surgically-repaired elbow while not sacrificing the fluidity and range of motion that allow his strengths to translate so well on the baseball field. Eppler, as a Yankees executive, had already scouted the budding two-way star of the Nippon-Ham Fighters, and he knew of Ohtanis relentless pursuit of information and borderline obsession with baseball. Shohei Ohtani is back and looks more than ready to jack some home runs in the 2020 MLB season. The Angels two-way sensation was limited in 2019 after Tommy John surgery but still hit for a .286 / .343 / .505 slash line through 106 games last year. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. The Baseball If we get Shohei in the right direction, that would be a pretty good offseason acquisition right there. "I'm staying away from that," Maddon said. And as he threw, be it in catch or off a mound on Thursday, Ohtani wore a black Motus Baseball band that monitors the stress level on his arm. Ohtanis busy offseason also included a visit to Seattle to tour Driveline Baseball, one of the most notable private player development centers in the sport, sources told The Athletic. I mean, Im gonna do whatever I can to keep Shohei here for sure, he said Wednesday morning before workouts began for pitchers and catchers for the day. Theres just this inherent characteristic in his DNA that he loves to compete, Eppler said, so hes usually curious about how his teammates are doing, how his peer group does, what we would consider elite.. "Some things are different than he'd done back in Japan. But now its kind of how I wanted to feel (in my first year). Lets talk to him. Before that, the Queens native was a freelancer with bylines in Thrillist and Self Magazine, worked as a production assistant with SNY-TV and MLB.com and briefly was a general assignment reporter for the Bronx Times. Ohtani demonstrated both by throwing his fastball 99 mph or harder at least once per game, including one pitch at 102. Shohei Ohtani said hes deadlifting 495 pounds in this video, which, wow. What manager Phil Nevin did consider was how the time limit would affect the intimidation factor Ohtani has on opposing batters. Its probably the biggest one of his life. OHoppe actually caught Ohtani briefly after the 2021 season when the Phillies sent over a group of prospects to Driveline, where Ohtani was training. Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is one of the most fascinating players in all of baseball, and photos of the big-swinging pitcher have fans drooling for his eventual return. Its a shame that the 2020 season is going to be extremely abbreviated, because we would love to see how much Ohtani could improve upon those power numbers over a full 162 games. In creating what he believes to be stabilizing forces to build on for his health, Ohtani also has allowed the Angels to remove some of the existing limitations on what he is asked to do something the organization had been open to under the previous regime once Ohtani showed full health. Aditya Deshingkar is a US Sports writer at EssentiallySports. I don't want to build in 'Shohei rules.'". Before camp opened, new Angels GM Perry Minasian said he doesnt anticipate an innings restriction on Ohtani, who hasnt topped 100 innings in a season since 2016. Wise added that there were some points Ohtani probably had more time than he thought he did. MESA, Ariz. . When Eppler and a small collection of team higher-ups were among the seven clubs selling Ohtani on their vision at the Creative Arts Agency offices in Los Angeles, the Angels pitch involved keeping several of the structures in place that had allowed him to thrive in his home country. The pandemic season cut down the use of video he studied so fastidiously, and his performance dipped. What do you think the 2022 season has in store for Shohei Ohtani? Los Angeles Angels news fromFanSided Daily, Red Bull Foam Wreckers series to returns for 2022, Angels make the most obvious Opening Day decision known to man, Brian Cashman Wants You to Feel Sorry for the Poor New York Yankees, Kurt Suzuki, Los Angeles Angels agree to 1 year, $1.75 million contract, Angels owner has a lot to gain from a lost MLB season, Mike Trout breaks silence on MLB lockout, blames Rob Manfred. Sarah Valenzuela is the Angels beat writer for the Los Angeles Times. Alex Cobb said he trained with Shohei Ohtani for a few weeks over the offseason. On Wednesday, Ohtani shared a video on Instagram that showed him deadlifting nearly 500 pounds. NOW WATCH: Tom Brady and Gisele Bndchen have a combined net worth of $580 million. But were gonna go out there and play. If his offseason training regimen is any indicator, Shohei Ohtani may be ready to break the MLB single-season home run record in 2020. Ohtani has packed on a ton of muscle since he joined the Los Angeles Angels, and it appears he has continued to make strength a priority heading into his third His arms are absolutely huge. New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, noted family man, reveals his thoughts on Major League Baseballs new pitch clock. A stadium tour guide for fans planning to attend Cactus League spring training games in Arizona ahead of the 2023 MLB season. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. A lot of it is based on his history and what he's done [in Japan]. Theres nobody else is doing that at the big-league level.. You can unsubscribe anytime. https://t.co/boMqJeOeP2, Hes worked to reshape his body ever since coming to the Angels: https://t.co/FR9Oe2CFY9 pic.twitter.com/4crrrBOFMz, Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 18, 2020. He revealed that Ohtani is trying to break world records. And they have really good opinions, some good data, some good intake, and I think theres a lot I could take away from it.. She previously worked at the New York Daily News, where she covered the New York Liberty and contributed to coverage of the New York Mets and New York Yankees. Tempe, Ariz. Shohei Ohtani may have already departed for the World Baseball Classic, but he is still a big topic of conversation around spring training for the Los Angeles Angels. Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant opened himself up to more questions after flashing a gun in an Instagram live video early Saturday. He graduated from Arizona State Universitys Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in May 2017 after growing up in a Phoenix-area suburb. For the first time, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett addresses his January arrest and some of the other poor decisions hes recently made. Notably, as an Trout did not go into his own previous final contract year without working out an extension he was eligible for free agency at the end of 2020, but agreed to an extension March 20 of 2019. Ohtani, who peaked at 97.1 mph on his fastball last season before a sudden velocity drop in his final game, topped out at 90 mph in his first bullpen session, but he said he was not concerned with velocity this early in spring training. Who else can do that? Russell Wilson says he wants to follow in Tom Brady's footsteps and play until he's 45, NBA POWER RANKINGS: Where all 30 teams stand for the stretch run of the season, March Madness tips off in a month Here are the top 20 biggest names to look out for, Dwyane Wade reviews the infamous suits from his legendary 2003 draft night: 'We got enough fabric on these suits to clothe the entire country'. Try a week on us. Ohtani said it hasnt been decided which game he will start. Being on a winning team is what Ohtani wants for his future and has said so multiple times. ":: Spring Training coverage presented by Camping World ::Ohtani's upcoming schedule Dwight Howard, who is currently playing in Taiwan, is reportedly receiving interest from another foreign basketball league. The chanting started after Shohei Ohtani stepped on the ramp to head to the clubhouse. Known for its usage of data, Driveline boasts a client roster that includes Trevor Bauer, Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and Adam Ottavino as well as fellow Oshu, Japan native Yusei Kikuchi and new Angels teammate Alex Cobb. Apart from winning the American League MVP voting, Shohei Ohtani has also won the Players Choice Award as MLB Player of the Year and AL Outstanding Player, voted by major league players. Sarah Valenzuela is the Angels beat writer for the Los Angeles Times. So lets watch him. When she asked him why, he said, There are no precedents of people like me in the majors. His body transformation has, among other things, prompted reporters to ask Ippei Mizuhara for the Japanese translation for yoked to which Mizuhara shrugged and Ohtani flexed. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Login/Register (0) Type at least three characters to see results. For the Angels, its a chance to let the player they have invested time and energy (and at least $8.5 million over the next two years before his last year of arbitration) prove himself and his health. Ohtani, 26, has had one successful season as a two-way player, coming during his first season in 2018, when he won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. But based on the conversation he had with Cobb, he is nowhere near finished. But based on the conversation he had with Cobb, he is nowhere near finished. Scioscia was not present when Ohtani threw live batting practice Saturday but watched video of it afterward. The Angels Shohei Ohtani bows to the field as he heads for the clubhouse after Spring Training workouts at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018. Fabian Ardaya is a staff writer covering the Los Angeles Dodgers for The Athletic. Ohtani and Trout will leave Tempe early this year, along with eight other Angels big leaguers, to head for training camp with their national teams for the World Baseball Classic. Angels News: Shohei Ohtanis Incredible Daily Routine in High School Ohtani had some long days in high school on his way to becoming a baseball superstar. Hes a very impressive athlete, said Angels general manager Billy Eppler, whose familiarity with Ohtani started long before the organizations recruitment of the generational talent. Kyren Paris drove in five on a triple, walk and double. (We) really got down to the nitty-gritty, to find out exactly what were dealing with. Ohtani is undoubtedly the main attraction at the minor league facility. Why is Ohtani worth so much? Maddon said the key is keeping Ohtani healthy and in a positive state mentally, as he believes the sky is the limit for him. At around 2:20 pm on the 3rd, we arrived at Nagoya Airport in Aichi Prefecture by a small plane. Being on a winning team is what Ohtani wants for his future and has said so multiple times. If an extension does not happen this spring, how the Angels finish the year could influence his decision. "So that's the point as a manager, kind of a steward of his situation, right? Ohtani is an ambitious guy, and that has started to show through as he names some of his goals for the future. Morant went live on Instagram following his teams loss to the Denver Nuggets and appeared to be partying. Let's talk to him. That type of build. El Caballo Blanco, Ohtani said, referring to Robles by his nickname, es loco.. Ohtanis weight has not fluctuated in his time stateside hes still listed at 210 pounds (which he confirmed as being accurate) but his body construction has certainly changed. Even if he can prove hes healthy Ohtanis main goal in 2020 the simple nature of his two-way pursuits will put a cap on how available he is on a regular basis. Ohtani has been noted as a quick study who has been open to using different resources to improve. I think Shohei has that presence about him. He likes to compete. "For a first workout, it was everything you'd expect," he said. All that data is going to be handed over to the (Angels) medical group, and then theyre going to look at it and theyre going to figure it out. "It was a first step toward him pitching in games. Shohei Ohtani walks off after his 2 1/3 inning start. As a standout pitcher and power hitter, Ohtani seems like a player pulled out of an earlier generation. Shohei Ohtani is back in the United States and ready to pick up where he left off. Angels pitchers and catchers officially reported to the clubs Spring Training complex in Tempe, Ariz., on Tuesday, but two-way star Shohei Ohtani s status was the biggest topic during manager Joe Maddons 45-minute Zoom session with reporters. DIVE DEEPER WATCH: A Peek Into Shohei Ohtanis Insane Gym Workouts about 1 year ago A record-breaking season In 2021, Shohei emerged as the One record Ohtani could end up breaking in the upcoming season is most combined plate and batter appearances. Its a big decision for him. Feb. 28, 2023 2:22 PM PT. From there, Ohtani began his offseason program a heavyweight, low-rep regimen that could put him in as good a shape as hes ever been to stay healthy with both hitting and pitching over a full season for the first time since 2016, which was the peak of his time playing in Japan as Nippon Professional Baseballs Pacific League MVP. Ohtani was matched up against a familiar face Tuesday, the As starting Shintaro Fujinami on the mound. So let's watch him. While Ohtani and Balelo have not named Driveline or any of the other facilities, both have elaborated on how they are using data to standardize how Ohtanis body operates and optimize the results to sustain the workload of both hitting and pitching. Last year, I thought there (were) times he almost looked to me like he was pushing the ball. The Angels are slated to face the A's in Mesa on Friday to open their Cactus League schedule, and will host the Brewers on Saturday.Bench roles TBDSaturday's trade of C.J. For Ohtani, its about taking control of his career ahead of one of his most important seasons yet. Bottom of 2, Shohei Ohtani #17 Pitches to Jesus Aguilar #99, Pitch in the Dirt.