New Los Angeles Angels pitcher amazed already by Shohei Ohtani’s “video game” abilities

Tempe, Ariz. — New Los Angeles Angels reliever Carlos Estevez already has a question about Shohei Ohtani and his jaw-dropping two-way abilities on the diamond.

“I was joking these past few days that I was going to ask him if he was an experiment or something because he’s a robot for sure,” Estevez laughed. “He’s just amazing. The work ethic he has is amazing as well.”

With Ohtani already on his way back to Japan to prepare for his time as a member of Team Japan during the World Baseball Classic, Wednesday gave Estevez a chance to reflect on what he has seen already from the former AL MVP in his short time as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. Estevez signed a two-year, $13.5 million deal this offseason after a six-year career with the Colorado Rockies.

New Los Angeles Angels teammate says seeing Shohei Ohtani every day is “incredible”

“The other day, I saw him throwing a laser beam that looked like video game stuff, then he went and hit and hit a bomb right away. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing. This is just incredible.’ And the level of focus that he he has, he’s amazing with what he does. And seeing it from the inside is just great.”

When Estevez inked his deal to join the Angels, he was slotted to be a part of the back end of the bullpen and will contend for a closer role with the team this spring. Los Angeles general manager Perry Minasian recently told The Athletic that he believes the 30-year-old right-hander will earn the closing job at some point during the season and Angels manager Phil Nevin has already praised the leadership Estevez has brought to the clubhouse early in his time with the squad.

“I’m excited,” Estevez said. “We have two of the best players in the game (Ohtani and Mike Trout). Just starting from there and then we got (Hunter) Renfroe and a lot of homers, another guy I’ve always faced from the other side. We have a great group and I’m excited to see what’s going to happen.”