NEW YORK — With Shohei Ohtani now in his sixth major league season, everyone in baseball knows what he’s capable of, even if they don’t always believe their eyes.
Already an MVP, Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star, the Angels’ two-way sensation has wowed audiences across the globe with his prowess at the plate and on the hill. This year alone, the lefty hitter owned a .298 average, 142 OPS+, three home runs and nine RBIs entering Tuesday’s series-opener against the Yankees. The right-hander won’t pitch in this series, but he also owns a 0.86 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 21 innings and four starts.
However, it’s another skill of Ohtani’s that impresses Aaron Boone the most.
“His speed,” the Yankees manager said when asked, “because that’s the last thing you talk about. You watch him get down the line and it’s like, ‘Oh, and he’s the fastest guy out there, too.’ It’s amazing what he’s doing. It really is.”
Ohtani hadn’t stolen a base yet this season, but he’s swiped at least 10 every year since coming over from Japan in 2018 — except for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Boone went on to wonder if the designated hitter could play an elite center field if he wasn’t a pitcher.
Ohtani, who finished second in MVP voting last season behind Aaron Judge, has had some offensive success at Yankee Stadium. He entered Tuesday as a .139 hitter in the Bronx. He has hit four homers in Yankee Stadium — including the 391-foot shot into the Yankees bullpen in the series-opener. The stadium’s mound has been less kind to Ohtani, as he’s allowed 11 earned runs over just 3 2/3 innings, which were divided between two starts.
Nonetheless, the Yankees — along with every other team — would benefit from having the impending free agent in their lineup and rotation. Of course, acquiring his unique skillset will take a lump sum of money — and/or prospects at this summer’s trade deadline, potentially — and there’s sure to be competition for the one-of-a-kind player.
“Just a special talent that maybe we’ve never seen,” Boone said, “and maybe never will again.”
Six weeks for Stanton
Boone hopes to have Giancarlo Stanton back in six weeks after the designated hitter suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain over the weekend.
“We’ll just let it play out how it does and look forward to getting him back,” the manager said. “And in the meantime, create some opportunities for other people to hopefully step up and fill the void that obviously he creates in the middle.”
Stanton, whose legs have failed him before, was off to a hot start with four home runs and 11 RBIs over his first 13 games.
Rehab roundup
Carlos Rodon (back tightness/forearm strain) threw a split session on Monday, but his back is still “barking,” per Boone. While Boone downplayed the issue as a mere “nuisance,” the southpaw is getting tests done. Boone has said that the pitcher’s elbow and arm are fine.
“We definitely know he’s going to be worth the wait,” Boone said of the Yankees’ biggest offseason addition. “We just want to make sure he’s good to go.”
Right-hander Luis Severino (lat strain) remains pain free and will throw live batting practice on Thursday, though he’s not sure how many innings or pitches he’ll go. Center fielder Harrison Bader (oblique) will be among those Severino throws to, according to Boone. If all goes well, Bader will begin a rehab assignment Friday.
Boone added that righty reliever Jonathan Loaisiga (elbow inflammation) is trending toward beginning a throwing program later this week.
Urshela’s return
Gio Urshela is glad to be back at Yankee Stadium for three games against his old team.
“Always special,” the Angels infielder said before Tuesday’s contest. “Got a lot of good memories here in New York, so I feel really good to be back here.”
The Yankees traded Urshela and Gary Sanchez to the Twins two springs ago in the deal that brought Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt to New York. The Twins then flipped Urshela to the Halos this past offseason.
After a few successful seasons in pinstripes, Urshela said the Yankees trade “surprised” him at first, but he understands that baseball is a business. He also said the he doesn’t keep track of how his third base successor is doing, though some wondered if Urshela trolled Donaldson and the Yankees on Twitter last October after the latter’s rough postseason.
Urshela entered Tuesday’s game with a .290/.340/.428 slash line, 14 home runs, 72 RBI and a 119 OPS+ over 158 games since the trade. Donaldson, who played in a rehab game due to a hamstring injury on Tuesday, has hit .219/.304/.373 with 16 home runs, 63 RBI and a 92 OPS+ in 137 games since the deal.
O’Hoppe’s homecoming
Tuesday marked a homecoming for Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who was born in West Islip and went to St. John the Baptist High School.
The backstop grew up a Yankees fan, but he insisted that he no longer roots for his hometown team.
“It’s pretty surreal,” O’Hoppe said of playing at Yankee Stadium. He’s done so before — as a teenager and during an exhibition game prior to the 2020 pandemic-shortened season — but Tuesday marked his first time doing so in front of a large crowd. He stopped counting how many guests would be in attendance after “a couple hundred.”
O’Hoppe already has a viral moment at Yankee Stadium. That came in 2018, when he was 17 and caught a second-deck home run hit by then-Orioles star Manny Machado. He swiftly threw the ball back onto the field, as one does in the Bronx.
“I remember not being able to watch the rest of the game because it was the first time my phone was blown up,” O’Hoppe said. “So good learning moment for moments like tonight.”
The century mark
Tuesday marked the 100th anniversary of the original Yankee Stadium, which opened its gates on April 18, 1923. Babe Ruth swatted the first home run at the historic ballpark, while Bob Shawkey pitched a complete game in a 4-1 win over the Red Sox. They did so in front of 74,200 people — the largest crowd in baseball history at the time. The Yankees ultimately christened their new home with the franchise’s first of 27 championships that season.
The original stadium cost roughly $2.5 million to build, a little less than Domingo German’s 2023 salary. Renovations came from 1974-1975 while the Yankees played at Shea Stadium, and the modern Yankee Stadium opened across the street in 2009. This time, the structure cost approximately $2.3 billion. Like the original Yankee Stadium, the Bombers concluded the new stadium’s inaugural season with a World Series title.
The Yankees gave fans a commemorative ticket for the 1923 opener before Tuesday’s game against the Angels. A public park now occupies the site of the original Yankee Stadium.
