Shohei Ohtani of the Major League Baseball Angels participated in the open game for the first time this season with two swords, a starting pitcher and a batter.
For the first time in this match, Otani was given a new rule that allows the starting pitcher to participate as a designated hitter at the same time, and he participated as the starting pitcher and the first designated hitter.
Otani was decided to be the first pitcher in the major leagues in the opening game on April 7, and was appointed for the first time in the open game with Brewers on March 31 in Phoenix, Arizona. rice field.
In addition, with the new rules applied by the Major League Baseball Organization from this season, starting pitchers can also participate as designated hitters at the same time, and they have become the number one designated hitter as starting pitchers.
Otani, who was the last starting pitcher in the open game for the opening game, invited a pinch with 2 outs, 1st base and 3rd base, including a hit and a walk in one mound with a 2-point lead.
Then, the batter who followed made the changing ball a timely two-base hit and tied the score.
In the second and third innings, he did not allow hits such as making corners with a changing ball and took a total of three strikeouts.
However, Otani was angry on the mound.
Otani got off the mound in a one-out bases loaded scene, with two foreballs out of control in the fourth inning, leading 5-2.
After that, the relieved pitcher was hit by a sacrifice fly, and one person returned to the home, so Otani threw halfway through the fourth inning, marking the fastest in this game at 159.3 km, and taking four strikeouts. There were two hits, three walks, and three runs.
On the other hand, batter Otani was beaten by the infield grounder in the first at-bat in the first inning, and the second at-bat in the second inning became the second grounder with a chance of 1 out third base, but in the meantime the runner returned to the home. It became 1 RBI.
In the third at bat of the 4th inning, he caught a 120-kilometer in-course changing ball and hit in front of the light.
After that, a pinch hitter was sent at the turn at bat five times, and this game was 3 at bats, 1 hit and 1 RBI.
"Most of the strikeouts weren't what I expected, but things are going well."
Regarding his pitching, Otani said, "I have the impression that Arizona is dry at this time and the ball does not go as expected after two strikes. I happened to strike out today, but it is not the strikeout I expected. I think that was the best part because I was able to throw the number of balls firmly and I've been doing well so far. "
And, for the opening pitcher who will be the first in the major league, "I think it is important to throw up to 6 or 7 times because I was selected so much, but I want to suppress it one inning at a time. I also have a pitcher, so I want to concentrate on each and every one of them and go politely. "
"Otani rule"
On the 31st, the Major League Baseball Organization announced that it has adopted a new rule that allows the starting pitcher to participate as a designated hitter at the same time. Also participated.
Under the new rules, the starting pitcher can also participate as a designated hitter, so even after getting off the mound, he can still participate in the match as a batter.
It also means that you can pitch as a pitcher after changing the designated hitter.
With the introduction of this rule, Otani does not have to cancel the designated hitter and participate in the game as in last season, so it is also called the so-called "Otani rule", and Otani applies the rule for the first time in this game. Then, while starting the pitch, I also participated as the first designated hitter.
Angels coach Maddon has stated that Otani will be the starting pitcher and first-designated hitter in the opening match against the Astros on April 7.
After the match, Otani said about the new rule, "I can attack more aggressively. Of course, there is pressure that the team will be tougher if you do not throw at least 5 or 6 times in the match to release the designated hitter. It's big that there isn't that. Even if I'm hit, I think it's a fresh place to have a chance to get back at bat after that. "
On top of that, when asked if he felt that the Major League Baseball was supporting the dual wield, he said, "It's a movement that hasn't happened in Japan, so I'm grateful that the United States will be more flexible. I'm the only one right now. However, I think that it will lead to participation in a more casual form, so I think that there are many positives even if you think about it as a whole. "