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2019 Angels
PACIFIC LEAGUE (JAPAN) SUMMARY
2017
◆ ◆ In fifth season with Nippon-Ham Fighters, posted career-high angels from japan
.332 batting average (67/202).
◆ ◆ Started All-Star Game for Pacific League as designated hitter. Shigetoshi Hasegawa (1997-2001)
◆ ◆ Limited to 65 games at designated hitter and five starts as a Hideki Matsui (2010)
pitcher due to an ankle injury. Hisanori Takahashi (2011-12)
◆ ◆ Signed with Angels as international free agent, Dec. 9, 2017. Shohei Ohtani (2018-present)
◆ ◆ Named by Baseball America as Angels’ top prospect entering
2018 and is rated as #2 prospect in all of baseball. Junichi Tazawa (2018)
◆ ◆ Designated as the #1 prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com for
the 2018 campaign.
2016
◆ ◆ 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. ohtani
◆ ◆ 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.
◆ ◆ Finished second in NPB Rookie of the Year Award voting, behind Takahiro Norimoto.
◆ ◆ Led Fighters with 51 games played in right field and also made 11 starts as a pitcher.
◆ ◆ Briefly missed time during year with a right ankle sprain and right cheekbone fracture.
NOTABLE PACIFIC LEAGUE AWARDS AND HONORS
◆ ◆ 2017 Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star.
◆ ◆ 2016 Pacific League Most Valuable Player...Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star...Designated Hitter Best Nine Award...
Pitcher Best Nine Award.
◆ ◆ 2015 Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star...Pitcher Best Nine Award...WBSC Player of the Year...Pacific League Battery
Award.
◆ ◆ 2014 Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star.
◆ ◆ 2013 Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star.

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