The Los Angeles got a glimpse into the full potential Shohai Otani can bring to the table on Tuesday night.
There was never a question that the three-time MVP couldn’t provide a sensational moment during his tenure in LA, but Otani threw five hitless innings against the Philadelphia Phillies, later hitting his 50th home run of the season, returning the lead that blew through the innings after he left the contest.
After the match, Snation’s Doug McCain reported that Otani told the Japanese media he was willing to change another position if it meant helping the team win.
Returning to professional baseball in Japan, Otani has made 62 appearances in the outfield. As a member of the Los Angeles Angels, he made seven appearances on Grass during his 2021 campaign.
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“I’ve had a lot of conversations with different people, and that topic has also appeared,” Otani said in a rough translation into English in Japanese. “That applies to the mound, and perhaps even the outfield. If I were to go as a rescuer, there might be situations where I need to defend in the outfield depending on what follows. So no matter what situation arises, I’ll be prepared to handle it.”
Recently, there have been a lot of whispers about Otani pitching from the bullpen this October. In particular, there are cases where it certainly takes place after the bullpen did in response to Otani’s five no-hit innings.
When manager Dave Roberts was asked about the prospect of moving Otani into the outfield, he appeared to be embracing the idea.
“He’s an incredible teammate. He wants to help us win the championship,” Roberts said. “So I’m everything about it.”
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Photo credit: Katie Stratman-Immagn Image
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