PEORIA, Ariz. —
Shohei Ohtani needed only 30 seconds in the dugout, trading his batting helmet and hitting gloves for a pitcher’s mitt and red cap.
Pitching and hitting in the same game for the first time in his Angels career, Ohtani took the mound for the bottom of the first inning already covered in dirt stains after hitting a single in the half-inning prior.
As he loosened up his arm, more than 15 minutes removed from his pregame warm-up tosses, a San Diego Padres hype video played on the scoreboard. The accompanying song echoed around Peoria Stadium, repeating the same line over and over.