Shohei Ohtani is Baseball’s Biggest Bust

• Shohei Ohtani has struggled to adjust to Major League competition during Spring Training
• Will the 23-year-old two-way star start the season in the Minors?
• Can Ohtani turn things around and win AL Rookie of the Year honors?

It’s time to pump the brakes on the Shoehei Ohtani hype train. The 23-year-old Japanese star gave up seven runs over 1 1/3 innings in his latest Spring Training start, allowing a pair of moonshots to Colorado’s Ian Desmond and Nolan Arenado that still have yet to land. Ohtani is now 0-1 with a 27.00 ERA in 2.2 innings pitched and has been hit harder than a piñata at a children’s party.

As bad as he’s been on the mound, Ohtani has been even worse in the batter’s box. The Nippon Professional Baseball sensation is “hitting” .083 and has struck out nine times in 28 at bats. With every passing day he’s looking a lot less like Babe Ruth and a lot more like Dr. Ruth.

We’ve been watching Ohtani’s rough start closely and have come up with fresh odds for his rookie season.

Odds Ohtani pitches in the Minor Leagues in 2018: 2/3

Angels manager Mike Scioscia has refused to openly discuss Ohtani’s fate, but with only nine days remaining until Opening Day it’s becoming increasingly clear that he’s simply not ready for Major League action.

By staying behind in Tempe, Ohtani could develop at his own pace and take the time he needs to adapt to Major League mounds, which are composed of harder dirt than Japanese mounds, and Major League baseballs, which are larger and feature lower seams than those used in Nippon Professional Baseball.

Holding Ohtani back would delay the start of his Major League service-time, thereby giving the Angels an extra year of control before he hits free agency.

Holding Ohtani back would also delay the start of his Major League service-time, thereby giving the Angels an extra year of control before he hits free agency.

Odds Ohtani is named the AL Rookie of the Year: 10/1

With all due respect to Ohtani, he’s light years behind Franklin Barreto, the Oakland A’s infielder whom many believe will win Rookie of the Year honors in 2018. The 22-year-old Venezuelan is hitting .295 with three home runs and seven RBI in 44 at bats and has impressed scouts with his blend of speed and power. Barreto is able to play at short and second and, unlike Ohtani, should get plenty of opportunities for a cellar-dwelling team with little to play for.

Over/Under number of home runs hit by Ohtani: 6.5

Ohtani hit eight home runs last season in Japan, but at this point he’d probably just settle for getting a ball out of the infield. The Oshu native has been struggling mightily with quality curves and inside fastballs, and needs to spend more time in the cage working on shortening his swing and leg kick. Don’t expect him to go yard on a regular basis until those issues are addressed.

Odds Ohtani hits more home runs than he surrenders: 25/1

Ohtani has already given up three round trippers in 2.2 innings pitched. If he keeps it up he’ll be sidelined with a case of whiplash long before he has a chance to get another at bat.

Rookie Seasons by Prominent Japanese Pitchers

Odds Ohtani tops 100 mph on the radar gun in 2018: 3/2

The good news for Ohtani is that his velocity has been every bit as good as advertised. He’s hit 97 mph in each of his first two starts and his stuff has looked electric in small bursts. Ohtani made history in 2016 when he threw the fastest pitch ever in Nippon Professional Baseball at 101.9 mph, and there’s a good chance he’ll hit triple digits in the U.S. before the year is done.

Over/Under number of wins by Shohei Ohtani: 7.5

Anyone who saw Ohtani’s performance against the Mexican League’s Tijuana Toros on March 9th, knows that he still has a way to go before he’s considered an ace. The 6’4” right-hander gave up six runs on five hits and was pulled after throwing 64 pitches in three innings. Outings like that are a reminder that fans need to remain patient with Ohtani as he embarks on the latest chapter of his career.