Shohei Ohtani's Impact Teammates Talk October 8th, 14:58

Shohei Ohtani (27), who has been the center of attention this season in the major leagues.

With 9 wins as a pitcher, 156 strikeouts, 46 home runs as a batter, and a tremendous record of 26 stolen bases, he achieved a two-sword style of pitching that is unprecedented in modern baseball for a year.

For the first time in history, he was selected for the All-Star Game in both categories and participated in the home run competition for the first time.

In the starting game, he pitched 160km and hit the first home run in the first at bat.

Standing on the mound at the top of the home run battle, throwing against the second-placed player.

How did the Angels teammates, who were closest to seeing such an activity that you wouldn't even see in manga, feel?

I tried to describe the impact of Otani's history for a year in their own words.

(American General Bureau Reporter Shuta Yamamoto)

Testimony 1 Director Joe Maddon (67)

"He proved that those who suspected humanity were wrong."

It is impossible to tell without this person the season in 2021, which continued to rewrite history with two swords.

The Major League Baseball Manager, who won the Best Director Award three times and led the team to the World Champion in 2016 during the Cubs era, announced Otani's "Full Operation Strategy" on the first day of the camp in February.

He declared, "I used to have a rest day before and after the pitching, and I will not make the previous Shohei rules."

Why did Maddon make this big decision?

Maddon:

"I don't like the rules. People in power often set limits to hinder the feats of others, but I always think that honesty, not rules, is needed. In that regard, he Is a sincere and humble person. He doesn't lie and is responsible for what he says. I never had it. I always got the answer, "I'm ready, I can do it." And when I came to the stadium the next day, he was always full of energy. He said, "There are no rules." This wasn't made by me, it was made by himself, and he proved that those who suspected the two-sword style were wrong. "

Otani experienced "Tommy John Surgery" to repair the ligament of his right elbow in 2018 when he challenged the major leagues, and had surgery on his left knee the following year.

At first, it seemed that this usage was too bold because he had been suffering from injuries, and there was a great concern that fatigue would accumulate, but Maddon was paying attention to Otani's facial expression.

Director Maddon:

"The day after I threw it, my body hurts. I also hurt the day after I threw it in high school. If you ask, "Can I run to the home if I get a double when I'm on first base?", I can't say that no one can do it. It's really amazing, but above all he always smiles. The pure fun of playing kept him tired. Baseball is a play. Many players think it's a fight to live or die, No. Without inner fun and joy, you'll be overwhelmed and crushed by something. Don't underestimate the power of fun. He's purely fun to play, and he's right that baseball is play. I understand. I want more players to enjoy playing like him. "

Testimony 2 Mike Trout (30)

"I hit everything exactly as I said."

One of the best hitters in the major leagues, Trout.

He is the "face" of the Angels, who has won the American League MVP three times and is often described as "the best player ever."

In the early part of this season, he had a batting average of over 30%, but in May he broke his calf and left.

The season ended without returning.

Trout, who accompanied the team during the rehabilitation and was always watching the game from the bench, said with a smile, "I am happy with the same team as him."

And he talked about Otani's "corrective power".

Trout:

"I don't remember which match, but Shohei was stuck in a high-in-course fastball in the first at bat and was out. I saw that and told him,'Next in. When the ball on the course comes, hit the right stand, the ball on the out course into the bullpen on the left side, and the ball with a slow ball speed such as a change-up into the center. " It's fun to watch the play. "

Trout spoke about the Orioles match on July 2nd.

The first turn at bat was the second fly, which was inserted into a fastball with a higher in-course of the first ball.

Then, after receiving advice from Trout, he perfectly captured the high-in-course fastball that came to the first at bat in the same way as the first at bat, and soloed No. 29.

The third turn at bat was No. 30 Touran by hitting the out-course ball into the left.

And two days later, in the game against Orioles, I scooped up a low slider and got an oversized No. 31.

Hideki Matsui's home run, which was the most recorded Japanese player in the season, was an unforgettable one for Trout, who was watching on the bench.

Testimony 3 Kurt Suzuki (38)

"He is changing the future of baseball"

Catcher Kurt Suzuki who joined the Angels from this season.

Even for a 15-year major veteran who was born in Hawaii and was a third-generation Japanese player and a world champion during the Nationals era, Otani's play was the first time he had seen it.

Suzuki:

"I'm always wondering why I'm not tired. Even if I'm tired, he doesn't show it. When I saw him doing throwing, he said he was" tired. " No. I think he's changing baseball itself, the future of baseball. More kids will want to do the same when he sees him, and more teams will do the two-sword style. "

And from the catcher's point of view, he continued.

Suzuki:

"As a pitcher, I originally had a great ball, but I wasn't happy with the quality and control of the ball. It's most important to stand on the mound and get used to throwing in the game. By throwing, he's getting scary every day. As soon as he thinks it's Max, he'll show you something more than that. That's what's really amazing about him. "

Testimony 4 Max Stassi (30)

"The batter can't hit even if he waits."

We also talked to another catcher, Stassy.

This season, Otani was wearing a mask when he pitched a noteworthy pitch.

Athletics match on September 19th.

In this match, which took the achievement of "double-digit win, double-digit home run" since Babe Ruth, Otani scored two goals in eight innings and scored 10 strikeouts.

I couldn't be a winning pitcher, but what's amazing is the content.

Of the 108 balls, more than half of the 57 balls fell sharply, the split.

He revealed behind the scenes that the ball distribution was not normally possible.

Stassy

"Before the game, he said,'I'm confident in the split today, so I want to throw a lot.' There are several types of his splits, some of which fall vertically and some of which move horizontally. It seemed to be particularly good that day. The opponent batter was clearly waiting for the split from the middle, but he still couldn't hit. That's how great the ball was. It was top notch in the top class. "

At Astros, where he belonged to the adult, Stassie has received the ball of pitchers representing major leagues such as Verlander and Cole.

He talked about "I think Otani is better than anyone else".

Stassy

"It's mental that Otani is better than any pitcher. He's the same person every day, he's never upset by success or failure, he's always calm. He understands himself perfectly. And it doesn't change on the mound. I know when to change my approach, what kind of ball to choose in what situation, I know what it looks like from the batter's point of view, and how the batter thinks by counting. I know when it will change and when to back it up. I've received a number of great pitcher's balls in the past, but he's no less than any of them. The best players in the world usually work that hard. There is no player who is not inspired by his appearance. I have to emulate him. "

Otani's "human power" praised by his teammates

What I felt when I interviewed the four people was that they all praised Otani's "human power" such as honesty, humility, and calmness.

Not to mention the play itself, everyone seemed to be impressed with the process and attitude leading up to that point.

For Otani, it's probably a natural behavior, not something he's consciously doing, just like picking up trash on the ground during a match.

However, the behavior of the top players makes us feel down and feel like apprenticeship.

By practicing the "leading example," the "impact of Otani," who raises himself and enhances his surroundings, has certainly spread within the Angels team.

America Directorate General of

Sports reporters

Yamamoto OsamuFutoshi

2010 He joined

in the sports news section

skiing, rugby,

such as the charge of land

currently belongs from last year in August