CNN
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Shohei Ohtani had a bittersweet MLB Opening Day.
The 27-year-old Ohtani made historical past on Thursday as he turned the primary participant within the historical past of the American and Nationwide Leagues to throw his group’s first pitch of the season and face his group’s first pitch as a hitter.
Nonetheless the Japanese star’s efforts, which included throwing seven pitches measured at 99 miles per hour, had been in useless because the Los Angeles Angels misplaced 3-1 to the Houston Astros at a sold-out Angel Stadium.
The brand new “Ohtani rule,” launched forward of the 2022 season, meant the two-way star stayed within the sport because the designated hitter after he was accomplished pitching.
“My splitter was a bit of bit in every single place, however I felt good about my fastball, curveball and slider,” Ohtani mentioned, in accordance with MLB.com
“I had an opportunity in my final at-bat to tie the sport, however I couldn’t come by way of, which was disappointing. On the pitching aspect, I felt just like the pitch rely was excessive and it didn’t enable me to remain within the sport longer.”
Regardless of his historic feat, Ohtani was outshone by Framber Valdez, who threw 54 of 84 pitches for strikes because the Astros claimed a record-equaling tenth consecutive Opening Day win.
Valdez threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings and retired 15 batters in a row in the course of the course of Thursday’s sport.
“I made changes throughout Spring Coaching and the most important factor was attacking the zone, getting forward within the rely and attacking the batters,” he mentioned.
Again in November, Ohtani was unanimously voted the 2021 American League Most Useful Participant.
The MVP award was in recongition of his feats starring on each the mound and on the plate for the Angels, a feat that has drawn comparisons to the Corridor of Famer Babe Ruth.
He’s the second Japanese-born participant to be voted MVP, following on Ichiro Suzuki, who was voted the AL MVP in 2001 when he performed for the Seattle Mariners.
