Page 138 - 2020 Angels Media Guide

2020 LOS ANGELES ANGELS

◆ American League Rookie of the Month for April and September
2018 . sho off
◆ A.L. Player of the Week for periods ending Apr. 8, 2018 and
Sept . 9, 2018 . Ohtani’s 22 home runs were the most ever
◆ Played in 162nd career game July 16, 2019...According to STATS, by a Japanese-born rookie, surpassing
is the first player in A.L. history with 35+ home runs and 15+
stolen bases in his first 162 games as a batter. Kenji Johjima’s previous record of 18 set in
◆ Five-time Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star (2013-17). 2006 with Seattle .
◆ Named 2016 Pacific League MVP and helped lead Nippon-Ham
Fighters to 2016 Pacific League Championship.
◆ Three-time winner of a “Best Nine Award” which is awarded annually to best player at each position in both the
Central League and Pacific League...He has twice earned the award as a pitcher (2015 & 2016) and also won 2016
award as a designated hitter, becoming first player to receive the award as both a hitter and pitcher.
◆ In 2014, became first Japanese player to record 10 wins and hit 10 home runs in a single season...He would
accomplish the feat again in 2016.
◆ Made Pacific League debut at age 18 after being selected by Fighters in first round of 2012 Nippon Professional
Baseball Draft.
sho time

Ohtani’s first...
GAME AS POSITION PLAYER March 29 at OAK GAME AS STARTING PITCHER April 1 at OAK
HIT March 29 at OAK off K. Graveman STRIKEOUT April 1 at OAK vs. M. Semien
HOME RUN April 3 vs. CLE off J. Tomlin WIN April 1 at OAK
MAJOR LEAGUE SUMMARY
2018
◆ In first season with Angels, was named American League Rookie of the Year as voted on by the Baseball Writers’
Association of America (BBWAA) after finishing with 137 points in the balloting process, including 25 of 30 first
ohtani
place votes.
◆ Became third player in Angels history to earn Rookie of the Year honors, joining Tim Salmon (1993) and Mike Trout
(2012)...Became fourth Japanese-born player to win a Rookie of the Year Award in Major Leagues, joining Hideo
Nomo (1995), Kazuhiro Sasaki (2000) and Ichiro Suzuki (2001).
◆ Named American League Rookie of the Month in April and September.
◆ Earned American League Player of the Week honors twice (April 2-8 and Sept. 3-9).
◆ Became first player in Major League history to hit 15+ HR and compile 50+ pitching strikeouts in a season.
◆ Joined Babe Ruth (1918 & 1919) as the only players since 1900 with 10+ HR and 4+ wins as a pitcher in a single
campaign…Ruth is also the only other player to hit 15+ home runs and pitch 50+ innings in a season.
◆ Established new home run record for a Japanese-born rookie (previous was 18 by Kenji Johjima in 2006).
◆ Is the first player since Jimmy Ryan of the 1888 Chicago White Stockings to record 15+ home runs, 10+ stolen bases
and three pitching appearances in a single season .
◆ Led all American League rookies with a combined 3.8 fWAR.
◆ Became first player to start as a pitcher and a non-pitcher within same season since Rick Rhoden (Yankees) in 1988
(30 starts as pitcher, one as DH). (STATS LLC)..
◆ Had the eighth-most popular (4th in A.L.) selling player jersey according to MLB.
HITTING
◆ Led A.L. rookies (min. 300 PA) in OPS (.925), on-base percentage (.361), and slugging percentage (.564) and posted
the best rates of at-bats per home run (14.82) and RBI (5.34).
◆ Became the seventh rookie in American League history to post a .925 OPS with 10 stolen bases in a single season,
joining Mike Trout (2012), Mitchell Page (1977), Fred Lynn (1975), Earl Averill (1929), Ben Paschal (1925) and
Shoeless Joe Jackson (1911).
◆ Is just the second Japanese native with a 20 home run season, joining Hideki Matsui (5 times, once in 2010 with the
Angels) and the only native of Japan with a 20 HR/10 SB campaign.
◆ Joined Devon White (1987) and Mike Trout (2012) as the only rookies in Club annals with a 20 HR/10 SB rookie
campaign .
◆ Earned first career win April 1st and then hit a home run in his next start April 3rd...Was the first player to earn a win
and then homer in his next start as a non-pitcher since Babe Ruth in 1921.
◆ 15 of 22 home runs came after the All-Star break, tied for third most in the A.L...Only rookie in franchise history to
hit more homers after the break was Mike Trout in 2012 (18 HR).
◆ Collected first hit in first start as a position player, March 29 at Oakland.

137 2020 ANGELS MEDIA GUIDE