Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani was named the best first-year player in the American League on Monday. Let's take a look back on some of the highlights of his rookie year in Major League Baseball:
Dec. 8, 2017
Ohtani meets the press in a Los Angeles Angels jersey in Anaheim.
March 29, 2018
Ohtani makes his major league debut as a hitter and singles in his first at-bat in a game against the Oakland Athletics.
April 1
Ohtani pitches against the Oakland Athletics and wins on his major league pitching debut, allowing three runs in six innings in a 7-4 victory.
April 3
Ohtani hits his first homerun in the major league, a three-run shot in a 13-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
(Ohtani is mobbed by his teammates after being given the customary silent treatment in the dugout after his first home run)
(Ohtani receives the ball of his first major league home run from an Angels fan and presents him with a signed bat in exchange)
April 24
Ohtani touches 101 miles per hour on the gun, clocking a total of eight fastballs at or over 100 mph in a game against the Houston Astros.
May 10
Ohtani blasts his fifth home run of the season in a game against the Minnesota Twins.
June 8
Ohtani goes on the disabled list with an injury to his pitching elbow -- a Grade 2 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament.
Aug. 27
Ohtani goes 2-5 with a three-run homer, his 15th of the season, and two runs scored as the Angels come from behind twice to beat the Colorado Rockies 10-7.
Sept. 2
Ohtani returns to the mound in his first start since June 6, suffering his second loss of the season in a 4-2 loss against the Houston Astros.
Sept. 15
Ohtani hits a home run in a game against the Seattle Mariners, becoming the second Japanese major leaguer to hit 20 home runs in a single season.
Sept. 26
Ohtani matches a career high with his 22nd homer in a game against the Texas Rangers.
Sept. 30
Ohtani singles and scores to spark a ninth-inning comeback rally in the regular-season finale in front of a home crowd at Angel Stadium.
Nov. 12
Ohtani is named the best first-year player in the American League, becoming the fourth Japanese player to win a Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award.
(Ohtani with his agent Nez Balelo)
[Photo courtesy of Angels Baseball]
Ohtani had 22 homers as a hitter and 63 strikeouts as a pitcher. On the mound, he went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts. At the plate, he hit .285 with 61 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 104 games.
