Ohtani returning as two-way player at start of 2020 season

Shohei Ohtani will finally return to two-way player status this season. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Shohei Ohtani will return to being two-way player at start of 2020 season

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated 6/30/20

The MLB season is scheduled to begin nearly four months later than usual, and that delay has given Shohei Ohtani enough time to return to his role as both a pitcher and hitter.

Los Angeles Angels general manager Billy Eppler told the media on Tuesday that Ohtani will be a two-way player when the 2020 season begins.

Shohei Ohtani is expected to be on the mound at the outset of training camp, Billy Eppler said, with some observation. He’ll be a two-way player from the start.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 30, 2020

Ohtani would not have been ready to pitch if the season started on time, as he just began throwing live batting practice in May. The delay has given him more time to recover from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in October 2018, so in some ways the postponement of the season may end up helping the Angels.

Ohtani had a solid season as a hitter last year, batting .286 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI in 106 games. Those numbers were very similar to his rookie season in 2018, when he hit .285 with 20 homers and 61 RBI. As a pitcher in 2018, Ohtani made 10 starts and went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA.

If the video we recently saw of Ohtani deadlifting an insane amount of weight is any indication, the 25-year-old could do some serious damage even in a shortened season.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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