Baseball can be a cruel. Many ballplayers get so few opportunities in this game that when the lights are on, and the media is watching, you better deliver because it could be a long time til you get another chance if you get one at all. Take for instance Cole Weston and Clint Denny.
Early this year the Angels decided to call up these two prospects with the idea that they'd be able to fill holes in the team and contribute often. Cole, a designated hitter that has a history of hitting bombs and Clint, a pitcher who has wowed people at all levels before, were hoping to turn spring training into their Major League debut with the eyes of the baseball world upon them. The opposition had other plans.
Cole struggles mightily at the plate. Batting a measly .125 over 32 AB with only 4 hits and 10 strikeouts. Needless to say, he just didn't seem ready for pitching at this level. Able to get decent contact on fastballs he just looked lost at the plate whenever any style breaking ball dove in on him keeping his swing looking more like a golfer than a batter. Maybe some more time at the AAA level would help right?
Clint had the same issues as Cole. With everyone keeping their eyes on these potential rookies, batters weren't going to let Clint earn his stripes against them. Only making it on the mound for 2 and 2/3 innings throughout all of spring, his ERA soared high hitting 27.00 while only allowed to take the mound in two games. He gave up 9 H, 3 HR, and 8 Earned while only striking out 5. A 4.15 WHIP wouldn't be able to get Clint over the hump to make more starts and impress anyone on the coaching staff. Again, maybe tuning things up in the minors could really help the kid out...right?
Here's the thing though. Cole Weston and Clint Denny don't exist. I made them up for this article. Those stats for both players were the batting and pitching stats for the Hype Train of Free Agency this year, Shohei Ohtani. Critics and scouts all through the Cactus League thought that we'd have to wait quite awhile before Ohtani was any good at the MLB level. But, as spring training came to an end, Ohtani was on the opening day roster for the Los Angeles Angels, would it be the right move?
Now don't get me wrong, it's April 11th which is way too early to make any long standing predictions for the Japanese superstar, however, this guy is intriguing. Through his first 2 starts he's 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA giving up only 4 hits with 18 strikeouts and a 0.46 WHIP! Minor leaguers dream of coming up to The Show and putting up games like Ohtani's first two. In the Japanese leagues he wen't 42-15 over 5 seasons while starting 82 games. 2.52 ERA, 624 K vs only 200 walks, and 7 shutouts over the years may not have just been hype. His stuff from the mound is nasty.
Not being content with just looking good on the mound, Ohtani has also been flashing a hot bat in the box this year so far as well. Call it a hot start if you want but 3 HR and 7 RBI in the first 20 plate appearances is a good look for the MLB Rookie. Being a two way player who won his first two games and homered in three straight can put his name in the ranks with the greatest of all time, Babe Ruth, who was the last player to do that same feat back in 1919.
Not to say that Shohei Ohtani has carved out his name amongst the baseball giants like Ruth quite yet obviously, but it'll be a fun season to watch just high this superstar will rise. All-Star? Yes. Rookie of the Year? Almost a certainty. AL Cy Young? He'll likely get votes. AL MVP? Maybe....just maybe, the first true two way player with a great mix of both in a long time has a chance.