Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Shohei Ohtani used 99-mph fastballs and a devastating, totally unfair splitter to strike out Matt Olson

On Sunday, Shohei Ohtani made his highly anticipated pitching debut with the Angels in their series finale against the A's in Oakland. 
How anticipated was it? Well: 

After picking up his first hit in the Majors on Opening Day in his first at-bat, Ohtani quickly racked up his first strikeout on Sunday against the first batter he faced. Sorry, Marcus Semien:

He then retired slugger Matt Olson on this ridiculous pitch to end the frame:

But it was a sequence in the bottom of the third against the powerful Olson that really put Ohtani's intimidating variety of pitches on full display.
Olson, a known fastball masher, swung right through two 99-mph four-seamers more or less thrown in his wheelhouse. Perhaps gearing up for another, Olson was then no match for this 90-mph splitter, which fell so far off the table it's just ridiculous. This sequence is unfair: 

That's just nasty. Ohtani ended up gettin the win in his debut -- going six innings while striking out six, giving up three hits and three runs.

BarberJordan
beephero
AP_702417634020
NYC