Los Angeles (AFP) – Japanese prodigy Shohei Ohtani blasted a home run on his home debut for the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, just two days after pitching his team to victory over the Oakland Athletics.
The 23-year-old two-way star brought Angel Stadium to its feet after belting a three-run shot out of right field as the Angels made a dominating start to their game against the Cleveland Indians.
Ohtani’s three-run shot came off a curveball from Indians starter Josh Tomlin to cap a six-run first inning by the Angels.
Angels players pretended to ignore a baffled-looking Ohtani as he returned to the dugout ready to celebrate, before they turned around en masse to embrace the rising star.
Ohtani had already recorded a career hit in Major League Baseball debut last week.
On Sunday he tossed a three hitter over six innings to set up a 7-4 win over the Athletics.
Ohtani was signed by the Angels after resisting overtures from several leading MLB franchises including the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants.
The two-way phenom has earned comparisons to Babe Ruth for his ability to pitch and hit, and led the Nippon Ham Fighters to their first championship in 10 years in 2016.
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