Ohtani Throws 100 MPH Pitch, Hits Homer Out Even Faster

When it comes to playing baseball, Shohei Ohtani is a renaissance man of sorts. It took him all of one inning to show that Sunday, when Ohtani threw a pitch that approached 101 mph. Later that same inning, he hit a pitch that exited his bat at 115 mph.

That, folks, is what's known as an historic performance. Ohtani and the Angels went on to beat the White Sox by a 7-4 count.

"I'm glad I got one game like this under my belt, and it's going to lead to a lot of confidence for me," Ohtani told reporters through his translator.

Ohtani became just the third pitcher in 45 years to hit for himself in a game with a designated hitter available. He was also the first such pitcher since 1903 to bat second in the lineup. Jack Dunleavy last did that for the Cardinals over a hundred years ago.

"He’s everything we thought he could be, right?" Angels manager Joe Maddon said. "That’s the complete baseball player. He just needed the opportunity to do it. ... What he did tonight was pretty special, and you’re going to see a lot more of that."

Written by
Sam Amico spent 15 years covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports and NBA.com, along with a few other spots, and currently runs his own basketball website on the side, FortyEightMinutes.com.