Texas Rangers Manager Says Angels Star Shohei Ohtani 'Incredible Talent'

After watching Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs in the series opener, Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy could only marvel at the Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar.

Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs against the Texas Rangers in Monday’s 9-6 win. He was 2-for-2 with three walks in the 7-3 victory Tuesday. Ohtani is doing things that, frankly, no other baseball player has ever done.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, like many baseball insiders, were on Ohtani when he was trying make his decision about coming over to Major League Baseball.

But even Bochy’s not quite sure he expected this.

“I didn’t know we’d see all this, to be honest,” Bochy said. “Seeing what he’s doing right now. He’s a great pitcher and what he does with the bat, the speed, the stolen bases, everything.

“I still remember when he was first coming over here because I was part of trying to recruit him (for the San Francisco Giants) and I didn’t know if that (playing two ways) was something that could work, but he’s making it work. It shows you what an incredible talent this guy is.”

Ohtani accomplished his latest bit of magic on Monday night, and it wasn’t just the two home runs. Per MLB.com, Ohtani is in the top three in two categories that we don’t normally associate with MLB players.

last year, Shohei Ohtani became the 1st player to finish top-15 in MLB in both HR hit AND pitching K’s in a season since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893

HE’S CURRENTLY TOP-3 in MLB IN EACH IN 2023!!!!!

T-2nd in HR, 3rd in K’s https://t.co/yEKMyzwa56

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 13, 2023

Entering Tuesday’s game, Ohtani is second in the Majors with 20 home runs, behind the New York Mets’ Pete Alonso, who is on the injured list. As a pitcher, he is third in strikeouts with 102, behind only the Atlanta Braves’ Spencer Strider (121) and Toronto Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman (117).

By the way, Ohtani is scheduled to pitch Thursday in the series finale against the Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi.

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