Seeing a pitcher throw off a mound and hit in the same game is nothing special. After a 2020 season in which there was a universal DH, the National League will be having their pitchers hit again in 2021. Usually they hit ninth in the lineup. Sometimes maybe eighth if the manager is creative.
However, they never hit leadoff. Well, that’ll change today.
On Sunday, Shohei Ohtani will be the starting pitcher for the Angels. He’ll also be hitting No. 1 in the lineup. When speaking with reporters prior to the game, Joe Maddon said that this is something that has been in the works for weeks.