Ohtani's 44th home run of the season Pitcher retires after two innings due to arm fatigue

'Hitter' Ohtani hits his 44th home run of the season

Shohei Ohtani (29-Los Angeles Angels), who has been phenomenal as both a hitter and pitcher, started the game leading all major leaguers in home runs.

On the mound, however, he left the game in the second inning with arm fatigue.

Ohtani started and batted second for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds of the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California, USA, on April 24.

Ohtani's 44th home run of the season came in the first inning.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, he saw a 150-mile-per-hour fastball from Andrew Abbott in the zone and swung hard, sending it about 135 meters.

With National League home run leader Matt Olson (Atlanta Braves) stuck at 43 on the season and having failed to produce a home run in eight straight games, Ohtani has regained the lead.

Ohtani needs just two more home runs to tie his single-season record of 46, set in 2021.

'Pitcher' Ohtani leaves mound early, complaining of arm fatigue

His 47 home runs are just three shy of Troy Gloss' 2000 mark, the most in Angels franchise history.

But on the mound, Ohtani left early for the second time this month, leaving some concern.

After lasting just four innings against the Seattle Mariners on April 4 due to finger cramps, Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday to earn his 10th win of the season.

Sensing fatigue, the Angels bench rested "Pitcher" Ohtani for his first start in 14 days, but this time he didn't make it out of the second inning.

Leaving the mound with the bases loaded in the second inning, Ohtani pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no walks before being removed from the game in favor of a pinch-hitter in the third inning.

MLBcom noted, "Ohtani's season average fastball velocity is 96.9 miles per hour. On this day, it was down to 93.1 mph. Velocity on his other pitches - sweepers, splitters and curves - were also down."

스포츠토토; https://www.sportstoto.link