Shohei Ohtani had a stellar rookie year for the Angels and did something that has not been the 1920’s by Babe Ruth: be a successful two-way player, both hitting and pitching in the same season. Ohtani hit .285 for the season with a .366 OBP and a .564 slugging percentage. The Japanese phenom clubbed 22 homers and drove in 61 runs with 10 stolen bases.
Pitching wise Ohtani was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA striking out 63 batters in 51.2 innings of work and posting a 1.16 WHIP. Ohtani twice struck out more than 10 batters in his 10 starts pitching seven innings against Oakland early in the season striking out 12 batters and only giving up only one hit.