Page 139 - 2020 Angels Media Guide

2020 LOS ANGELES ANGELS

PITCHING
◆ Set Angels record with 63 strikeouts through first 10 career
starts (previous was 56 strikeouts by Bo Belinsky in 1962). angels from japan
◆ Held opponents to an .036 (2/55) batting average against his
splitter...Opponents had a swing and miss rate of 55.8% against Shigetoshi Hasegawa (1997-2001)
the splitter and he recorded 35 of 63 strikeouts with the pitch.
◆ Became third pitcher all-time with 11-or-more strikeouts in two Hideki Matsui (2010)
of first six career games pitched, joining Brooklyn’s Karl Spooner Hisanori Takahashi (2011-12)
(1954) & Cubs’ Kerry Wood (1998). Shohei Ohtani (2018-present)
◆ Carried perfect game into 7th inning Apr. 8 vs. Oakland in first Junichi Tazawa (2018)
pitching start at Angel Stadium...Had stretch of 27 consecutive
batters retired between starts on Apr. 1 & Apr. 8 (both vs. A’s).
◆ Had average fastball velocity of 96.7 MPH…Topped 98 MPH with
110 of 396 fastballs, including seven pitches at 100+ MPH.
◆ Recorded 57 of 63 (90.5%) strikeouts on a swinging strike three, which was the highest rate in Majors (min. 50 IP)…
Among MLB pitchers to make at least five starts, his 35.1% swing and miss rate led the Majors.
◆ In five starts in day games, went 4-0 with a 2.18 ERA (33 IP - 8 ER) with 44 strikeouts.
◆ Allowed three-or-fewer runs in nine of 10 starts overall.
PACIFIC LEAGUE (JAPAN) SUMMARY
2017
◆ In fifth season with Nippon-Ham Fighters, posted career-high .332 batting average (67/202).
◆ Started All-Star Game for Pacific League as designated hitter.
◆ Limited to 65 games at designated hitter and five starts as a pitcher due to an ankle injury.
◆ Signed with Angels as international free agent, Dec. 9, 2017.
◆ Named by Baseball America as Angels’ top prospect entering 2018 and as #2 prospect in all of baseball.
◆ Designated as the #1 prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com for the 2018 campaign.
2016 ohtani
◆ Named Pacific League Most Valuable Player and helped lead Nippon-Ham Fighters to the Pacific League
Championship .
◆ Posted a career-best 1.86 ERA (140 IP – 29 ER)...Finished three innings pitched shy of qualifying for league leaders,
and would have led Pacific League in ERA for second consecutive season if he qualified...Also registered 174
strikeouts (third-most in league) in his 21 games (20 starts) on the mound.
◆ Registered finest season at the plate, batting .322 (104/323) with 18 doubles, 22 home runs and 67 RBI in 104 total
games, primarily as a designated hitter.
◆ Honored with Best Nine Award as a pitcher and as a designated hitter.
◆ Started at designated hitter for Pacific League in All-Star Game and earned MVP honors after going 3-for-4 with two
runs scored and two RBI.
2015
◆ In third season with Nippon-Ham Fighters, was selected to start All-Star Game as a pitcher for second consecutive
season .
◆ Finished year leading Pacific League in wins (15), ERA (2.24), complete games (five) and shutouts (three)...Ranked
second in league in strikeouts (196).
◆ Earned first Best Nine Award as top pitcher in Pacific League.
◆ Finished third in MVP voting behind Yuki Yanagita and Shogo Akiyama...Was a finalist for the Sawamura Award,
given annually to top pitcher in Pacific and Central Leagues.
◆ Along with catcher, Shota Ono, earned Pacific League Battery Award.
2014
◆ With Nippon-Ham Fighters, became first Japanese player to reach double digits in both home runs (10) and wins
(11).
◆ Became first pitcher drafted out of high school to notch two shutout victories within his first two years in NPB since
Yu Darvish.
◆ Was starting pitcher for Pacific League in All-Star Game and established record for fastest pitch (101 mph) thrown
by a Japanese pitcher.
2013
◆ Made Pacific League debut at age 18 with Nippon-Ham Fighters Mar. 29, 2013 on Opening Day as a right fielder.
◆ Became first NPB pitcher since Takao Kajimoto in 1963 to bat 3rd, 4th or 5th in the order and first rookie hurler to
do so since Junzo Sekine in 1950.
◆ Voted by fans into All-Star Game.

2020 ANGELS MEDIA GUIDE ANGELS.COM /angels @angels 138