Spring training games aren't supposed to matter. They're glorified practice sessions, tune-ups before the real season starts. Somebody forgot to tell Shohei Ohtani.
In the final spring training game Monday, Ohtani put on a show for the ages - striking out 11 batters in just 4 innings while also going 2-for-4 at the plate with a .500 average, according to MLB.com. Oh, and he was facing his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in what became a 3-0 Angels shutout victory.
Let that sink in for a moment. Eleven strikeouts. In four innings. That's 92% of his outs via strikeout. Ohtani struck out the side in back-to-back-to-back innings, making some of the best hitters in baseball look absolutely foolish.
This is why Shohei Ohtani is the most electrifying player in baseball. This is why he's must-see TV every time he takes the mound or steps into the batter's box. Because even in a meaningless spring training game, he treats it like Game 7 of the World Series.
The irony here is delicious. Ohtani left the Angels after last season, signing a record-breaking contract with the Dodgers. He's supposed to be their superstar now. But Monday night? He was still wearing Angels colors - a final spring showcase in the uniform that made him a household name. And he absolutely dominated his new team.
Imagine being a Dodgers hitter, knowing that next week this guy is going to be your teammate, and you can't touch him. That splitter was unhittable. The fastball had that late life. The command was surgical. This wasn't a guy shaking off rust - this was a thoroughbred running full speed toward Opening Day.
And then there's the hitting. Because of course there is. Two hits in four at-bats, a .500 average for the game. While most pitchers are focused solely on their arm strength and mechanics in spring training, Ohtani is out here proving he's an elite hitter too. It's genuinely unfair.
The phrase "safe and affordable Angels" in the Reddit post title got a chuckle from fans, but let's be real - there was nothing safe about facing Ohtani on Monday. The Dodgers got shut out 3-0, and their new superstar was the one doing the damage in the other uniform.
