Shohei Ohtani’s pitching debut in New York couldn’t have gone worse as the Angels star was pulled in the first inning after giving up seven runs.
Shohei Ohtani is one of the best stories in baseball for 2021. His stellar season took a disappointing turn on Wednesday when he made a heralded pitching debut at Yankees Stadium.
It was just the fourth time since 1900 a player started on the mound while also filling the leadoff spot in the batting order.
Instead of being a historic moment for Ohtani, it was a pure disaster.
MLB fans were shocked by Shohei Ohtani’s terrible time against the Yankees
The pitcher flied out in his first at-bat, then went 2/3 of an inning while giving up seven runs and walking four.
Shohei Ohtani was pulled in the first inning after allowing seven runs vs. the Yankees.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 1, 2021
Seven runs is the most he's allowed in a game in his career. His ERA jumped a full run from 2.58 to 3.60. pic.twitter.com/cOODeFgHQy
Yankees fans were happily shocked by the turn of events, which saw their team leading 7-2 after one inning. After all, the team had put out a lineup many thought would get worked by Ohtani.
Am I dreaming? The Yankees put up 7 runs against Ohtani, without the benefit of a HR? Rain needs to hold off!
— BaddogSports (@MrBaddog7676) July 1, 2021
We knocked out Ohtani in the first inning… #SquadUp pic.twitter.com/hnEpsidsiE
— Donut 🍩⚾️ (@Adonut__29) June 30, 2021
WAS IN THE BUILDING TO SEE OHTANI PITCH 2/3 AN INNING. pic.twitter.com/KFpTXOHUzV
— CaroLine Jastremski (@caro_line_em_up) June 30, 2021
Yankees knock Shohei Ohtani out in the first inning! pic.twitter.com/5NqGYPUnx7
— Jack Crosby (@JCrosbyCBS) June 30, 2021
Then again, there were a lot of people in the stands who thought they’d be seeing Ohtani and Aaron Judge. They got less than an inning of the two combined.
40% of people at Yankee Stadium who showed up to see Ohtani after Maddon pulled him pic.twitter.com/ngcVz9635t
— AdamTheSportFan (@AdamTheSportFan) June 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/slexyman/status/1410393538970505219?s=20
Angels fans had one of the only good things in their lives spoiled.
watching watching
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) June 30, 2021
shohei ohtani the rest of the
and angels
mike trout pic.twitter.com/Bz9xRXV9LA
The question now is how much this performance will affect Ohtani’s perception as an MVP candidate.
The game ended up in a rain delay in the bottom of the third, with the Yankees leading 7-3. Ohtani just wishes those clouds had arrived an hour or two earlier.
Ohtani may have had a rough outing on the mound, but his record as a batter this year is still impressive. He leads the major leagues with 28 home runs and has the most triples in the AL with four. He also has 11 stolen bases. He’s batting .278/.361/.688.