MLB news: Jordan Walker sees a ghost, Carlos Rodon’s rough debut, Ohtani at WBC

Shohei Ohtani’s powerful WBC tuneup, Jordan Walker’s spring training stats mean nothing thanks to Kodai Senga, and Carlos Rodon’s rough Yankees debut.

For those lucky enough to be in attendance, Ohtani put on a show in Japan’s World Baseball Classic tuneup against the Hanshin Tigers. Ohtani is the biggest star in a tournament full of them, and when Japan makes its WBC debut in the coming weeks, he’ll be expected to produce for his home country.

Shohei Ohtani ripped two home runs against Hanshin, including one from his knee. They were both three-run bombs.

The forever-humble Ohtani could only focus on his strikeout after the game.

“As my physical condition isn’t 100% because of jetlag, I feel a bit worried about missing a pitch over the plate,” Ohtani said. “Still, I was able to get a good swing on a split.”

Shohei Ohtani puts on WBC show

He did not miss many pitches over the plate, that much is certain. And yes, that one home run came off one knee. Some were quick to point to the same swing typically pulled off by future Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre.

Ohtani celebrated his home run with a pepper grinder celebration, which Lars Nootbaar taught him before the game.

“We wanted that we wanted a little hit celebration, something to go,” Nootbaar said. “We didn’t really know what to come up with. And so he said, whatever I go out there and do first that’s what we’re gonna roll with. So, I went out [and got a hit] in the first inning, we got the pepper grinder out there. And you know, we kind of stuck with it.”

Ohtani is set to take the mound on Thursday against China at 5 a.m. ET sharp. Set your alarm.

NY Mets: Kodai Senga introduces Jordan Walker to the ghost

Kodai Senga struggled a bit with his location and the pitch clock in his NY Mets debut, which was to be expected given the pressure of the moment and that it was his first time throwing with such a device.

“[I felt] very rushed in the beginning,” Senga said. “I thought if I had more time to spare at the end, I could get settled in. But [the clock] just kind of ended up rushing everything, including my mechanics.”

Senga introduced his ghost forkball to an American audience this past weekend, and it was glorious. While Senga admittedly did not throw the breaking pitch all that often in hopes of saving it for the regular season.

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1632447160384909313

Jordan Walker spring training stats don’t matter to Kodai Senga

Jordan Walker, the Cardinals star prospect, was the first victim of the ghost forkball. Let it be known throughout baseball history. In spring training, Walker is hitting .429 with three home runs and six RBIs. He has six runs as well.

“[There have been] a lot of meetings inside on what pitches to use,” said Senga.

Nolan Arenado of the Cardinals was impressed with Senga’s stuff, especially once he settled down in second inning. Mets manager Buck Showalter stated much of the same, but did admit that Senga must adjust to the pitch clock much as he did to other rules in Japan. It’s the way of the game.

MLB news: Carlos Rodon struggles in Yankees debut

As much as baseball fans — especially Yankees fans — tend to overreact about MLB Spring Training, can I recommend sitting this one out?

Yes, Carlos Rodon struggled a bit in his debut for the Yankees. The more important outing will likely come on April 1 at Yankee Stadium. Rodon gave up five runs on six hits against the red-hot Braves hitters this past weekend, but it occurred for a reason.

Yankees news: Carlos Rodon struggled for a reason

New York took a look at Rodon’s recent spring training history. The oft-injured pitchers hasn’t had too many healthy springs, but in 2021, he sat around the 92-93 MPH range. So, despite the fact that Rodon can reach back and really sling it, Aaron Boone asked him to hold himself back a bit on the fastball. The end result was some inconsistency, and the Atlanta hitters having a field day off a good pitcher.

“I wanted to reach back and throw harder,” Rodon said. “But I told myself to trust the process, I guess. But a younger me would have said, ‘Eff that, I’m going to throw one as hard as I can right here.’ I’m glad I didn’t do that.”

Aaron Boone explained the method to his madness to the New York Post.

“The thing I don’t want him to do is start reaching because he’s supposed to throw 96, 97, 98,” Boone said. “This is in line with where he is every spring. So I don’t want him to feel like he’s got to impress us on March 5 and overdo it and get in a bad spot mechanically or start to do something.”

Rodon knows deep down this game doesn’t mean anything, and fans in New York should, too. Rodon will be ready for the regular season. He was signed by the Yankees to be a co-ace with Gerrit Cole, and barring anything out of the norm from his previous two seasons, he will deliver.