SHO STOPPER
BT21 SHO STOPPER SEPTEMBER 2021
Shohei Ohtani has broken the limits of what was thought possible in the major leagues.
Through Aug. 22, Ohtani led the majors with 40 home runs and ranked third with a 1.003 OPS. He also had a 2.79 ERA in 18 starts and averaged 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings, eighth in the majors.
Ohtani’s two-way excellence is without precedent in the last 100 years. The Angels’ all-star is the first player to make multiple pitching starts in a season while leading the majors in home runs since Babe Ruth in 1919.
He’s done it all while going 19-for-27 on stolen bases and even playing the outfield on occasion, though all his starts had come at DH.
There are many factors driving Ohtani’s excellence, but his tools are foremost among them. A five-tool position player who also has four plus pitches, Ohtani’s combination of tools are unparalleled in MLB history.
Ohtani’s combination of power and speed made him a unanimous pick for most exciting player in Best Tools ballots cast by American League managers this season.
In this piece we break down all of Ohtani’s tools on the 20-80 scouting scale. The evaluations come from major league scouts and front office officials.
“I know he’s gotten a lot of run
