Shohei Ohtani Expected To Make Angels Opening Day Roster Despite Being An Unmitigated Disaster In Spring Training
It’s borderline impossible to live up to the hype when you’re known as the Babe Ruth of anything, never mind in the context of baseball. As a 23-year-old, that’s what Shohei Ohtani was up against when he came over to the United States as the “Babe Ruth of Japan” this past offseason. Of course, the nickname wasn’t self-given, but there was also some merit to it. In 2016, Ohtani hit .322 with a 1.004 OPS, while also racking up a 1.86 ERA with 174 strikeouts in 140 innings. That’s some Babe Ruth shit.
Well, the thing is, Babe Ruth did Babe Ruth shit in Major League Baseball. So, until you prove it here, it doesn’t really matter as much, if at all. In his first time facing major league talent on the mound and in the batter’s box, things haven’t gone so well for ol’ Shohei. This spring, Ohtani is batting .107 with a .326 OPS in 32 plate appearances, while carrying a hefty 27.00 ERA in two spring starts that have lasted just two and two thirds innings, allowing three homers and nine runs (eight earned) with a 4.13 WHIP.
If you’re not familiar with baseball statistics, those are bad. Now, these are both small samples and spring training numbers, but the scouts haven’t exactly spoken glowingly about Ohtani, either. Despite his dog shit spring, the Angels are still planning on having him on their major league roster on Opening Day.
Ohtani will be on the Angels’ opening-day roster, two high-ranking Angels executives told USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity since no roster decisions need to be revealed until March 29. He’s tentatively scheduled to pitch their third game of the season, March 31, against the Athletics at Oakland Coliseum. He also is scheduled to be in their opening-day lineup as their starting DH.
I thought it would be a no-brainer to start Ohtani down in Triple-A to begin the year. Or maybe even Double-A, since the talent there is actually better. But as far as putting him on a major league roster after a spring performance like that — why force it? A.) He clearly hasn’t earned it. B.) He’s not some big-money free agent that you need to get a return on your investment immediately. He’s certainly not burning a hole in your pocket if he’s not on the active roster right away. The Angels signed him for chump change. And C.) He’s an international free agent coming to a new league in a new country who clearly isn’t ready.
It’s obvious that Ohtani could use some more time to get acclimated, and the Angels might be much better off in the long run if they allow him to do that. Perhaps it’s Ohtani who’s resisting that notion? Who knows. He could end up getting to The Show, doing just fine and all of this is null and void, but you can still make the wrong decision and have it work out in the end. That still doesn’t make it the right decision. I think having Ohtani on the Opening Day roster is the wrong decision.