Shohei Ohtani Will Return to Being 2-Way Player for Angels in 2020

Shohei Ohtani with the Angels in 2018
Shohei Ohtani with the Angels in 2018. Photo by Peter Joneleit/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (9635290f)

The Los Angeles Angels intend to use Shohei Ohtani’s talents in full this season. According to Angels general manager Billy Eppler, Ohtani will return to being a two-way player for the team in 2020.

Ohtani excels as both pitcher and designated hitter, but Angels had to limit him to just hitting last season after he underwent a Tommy John surgery. But due to coronavirus pandemic delay, the 25-year-old had enough time to recover and is now ready to fill both roles once again.

“We’ll probably have a little bit more of a governor on him, at least at the outset,” Eppler told the media during a press conference on Tuesday. “He’s had a number of live [throwing sessions against hitters], but we want to up that intensity a little bit more and put him into a game situation.”

“We’re expecting him to be on the mound and stay on the mound and roll through spring training,” he added.

Angels’ manager Joe Maddon also confirmed that he expects to see Ohtani in the two-way role once the season kicks off. According to Maddon, the Japanese star should start as a pitcher one game a week, while hitting in three to four games between each pitching performance. 

Since joining Angels in 2018, Shohei Ohtani pitched 10 games, posting 4-2 record with 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts. As a hitter, Ohtani has .286 batting average with 40 home runs and 123 RBIs.

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