WBSC Premier12 standout Ohtani, Angels agree to 2-year $8.5 million deal
WBSC Premier12 2015 standout Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB) have agreed to terms on a two-year US$ 8.5 million contract.
Ohtani, who signed his first MLB deal on 7 December 2017, is an arbitration-eligible player. The Los Angels Angels will have control over him through the 2023 season.
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The 26-year old is a rare example of a two-way phenom. He can reach triple-digit (MPH) speed with his right arm, while with the bat he has strong power from the left side.
Ohtani combined 47 home runs over his first three MLB seasons (254 games), and started 12 MLB games as a pitcher, despite a number of injuries. He was named the MLB American League Rookie of the Year in 2018.
He also appeared in 85 games as a pitcher over five Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) seasons, 62 as a starter. As a hitter he appeared in 403 NPB games, blasting 48 home runs.
💪 🇯🇵 2015 WBSC Player of the Year Shohei Ohtani named 2018 @MLB American League Rookie of the Year !!! 👏👏 @Angels #ROY pic.twitter.com/R1Y4hlWQL5
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) November 13, 2018
He dominated as a pitcher during the inaugural WBSC Premier12 in 2015. Ohtani started two games and didn't allow a run over 13 innings, striking out 21, earning the tournament's WBSC All-World and Best Starting Pitcher honours, for which he was named the 2015 WBSC Baseball Player of the Year.
