Shohei Ohtani is used to making history with his two-way talents. Hitting a ball over 100 mph and throwing one over 100 mph? That can only be Ohtani. Strike out 10 and drive in a pair during the same game? Yeah, that also sounds like Ohtani.
But on Wednesday, Ohtani made a bit of history that was unlikely to be claimed by anyone but him. Against the Mariners, Ohtani, as the pitcher, was called for a pitch-clock violation in the first inning when he took too long to deliver a pitch. In the top of the sixth, Ohtani, as the batter, was called for a pitch clock violation for taking too long to get ready in the box.
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Given the universal DH in MLB, it should be unsurprising that Ohtani made history as the first player to be called for pitch clock violations as both a batter and pitcher in the same game.
Shohei makes MLB history in such a strange way, again 😅🦄@Angels | #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/c8JBjtY2Vj
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 5, 2023
Barring a position player pitching, this was always going to be the most likely outcome. Since pitchers no longer have to bat, it is unlikely they will be given chances to swing the lumber in another MLB game. Blowouts where teams ask a position player to eat an inning or two might be the only chance anyone else has to be called for both types of pitch timer violations.
Ohtani appeared to be a bit confused by his pitch-clock violation in the first inning. He spent the half-inning between the bottom of the first and the top of the second asking home plate umpire Pat Hoberg about the reasoning for the call.
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MLB.com's Daniel Kramer speculated that Ohtani did not establish eye contact with the hitter before delivering a pitch.
Shohei Ohtani spends the entire half-inning meeting with home-plate umpire Pat Hoberg about his warning and pitch clock violation.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) April 5, 2023
It seemed like Ohtani thought it was related to his windup, but looked like it was actually about establishing eye contact with the hitter. pic.twitter.com/XsDw8pwWck
Neither violation impact Ohtani too much. He finished his outing on the mound with only one run allowed on three hits and four walks over six innings with eight strikeouts. In his plate appearance with the clock violation, he took a walk. Across his first four plate appearances in the game, Ohtani walked twice and hit an RBI single.
All players are adjusting to the pitch clock rules in MLB. Ohtani has the added challenge of making sure he is ready for the different time limits.
