‘I Was Really Surprised’- Long Before Shohei Ohtani’s Meteoric Rise as a Two-Way Player in MLB, Former Japanese Manager Foresaw His Greatness

There were a number of nice gamers in Major League Baseball. Be it the hitters or the pitchers, MLB has witnessed numerous remarkable ballplayers over the past hundred years. But when it comes right down to a two-way participant, there was no person just like the LA Angels famous person Shohei Ohtani.

It has no longer been even 5 years since Ohtani debuted in MLB, and the Japanese famous person has already owned the baseball league. However, Ohtani’s upward thrust in MLB isn’t a unexpected phenomenon. Way sooner than enjoying in MLB, Ohtani used to be already a celebrity in the Japanese baseball league.

Shohei Ohtani’s former supervisor knew what lay forward in his long term

Recently, Ben Verlander of Fox Sports carried out an unique interview with Shohei Ohtani and his former supervisor Hideki Kuriyama. While speaking to Fox Sports, Kuriyama, who controlled Ohtani in Nippon Professional Baseball, unfolded about Ohtani’s more youthful days.

Kuriyama mentioned when he first noticed Ohtani pitching from the mound in his highschool, he left shocked. Kuriyama additionally when compared Ohtani with mythical Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish.

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“The first time I saw Shohei Ohtani pitch was when he was a sophomore in senior high, just before the summer. And by chance, I was at a game. And Shohei Ohtani happened to be the opposing pitcher,” mentioned Kuriyama.

“When I first saw him pitch from behind the home plate, well, Yu Darvish was the best pitcher in Japan at the time. I could already see Ohtani’s pitches coming with the arc and speed of Darvish’s pitches. I was really surprised.”

Shohei Ohtani credited his former supervisor for making him a two-way participant

Shohei Ohtani has most likely been the most productive two–manner participant in baseball. No doubt about that. But to reach this feat, the Angels’ famous person additionally were given correct steerage from his former supervisor, Hideki Kuriyama. The reigning AL MVP credited Kuriyama for making him a two-way participant.

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“If it wasn’t for Mr. Kuriyama, I probably wouldn’t have become a two-way player. And as a professional, it would have been even more difficult to steadily improve myself. So, I am really grateful to him,” Ohtani mentioned to Verlander.

Do you suppose Ohtani is the most productive baseball participant in the sport at the moment?