Ohtani destroys glove with 109 mph single

September 30th, 2021

ARLINGTON -- regularly does mind-blowing things on the field, but it reached new heights in the Angels' 7-2 win over the Rangers on Wednesday, as he hit a single so hard off reliever Josh Sborz that it broke second baseman Andy Ibáñez's glove in the ninth inning.

Ohtani came to the plate with Luis Rengifo at first base and one out, and he ripped a 3-1 fastball from Sborz to second base. It left the bat at 109 mph, according to Statcast, and Ibáñez tried to make a diving stop, only for the ball to reach right field for his second hit of the game. But as right fielder Adolis García threw the ball back into Ibáñez, it was clear that Ohtani’s scorcher had broken Ibáñez’s glove.

Rengifo, who reached third base on the play, could only laugh when he saw what happened to Ibáñez’s glove. And Angels manager Joe Maddon was amazed by Ohtani yet again after a game in which he went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases as the club’s leadoff hitter.

“In my mind's eye that absolutely galvanizes the MVP Award,” Maddon said. “When you start breaking gloves, you're the MVP."