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Shohei Ohtani who was a starting pitcher for the Hokkaido Ham Fighters in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Pacific League has reached an agreement to achieve his dream of playing in America as a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim starting in the 2018 Major League Baseball season .
Ohtani is being billed as the Japanese version of former Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Boston Braves pitcher and outfielder the late George Herman “Babe” Ruth. Ruth was famous during his tenure with the Boston Red Sox both as a starting pitcher and an outfielder from 1914-1919. The story was that when Ruth had an off day from his assignment of being a starting pitcher for the Red Sox, he played in the outfield for the Red Sox.
<a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/12/04/shohei-ohtani-mariners-giants-rangers-cubs-dodgers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source</a>
Ohtani is being compared to the late Babe Ruth since during his time with the Hokkaido Ham Fighters from 2013-2017, Ohtani was a starting pitcher as well as a designated hitter with the team. In the era when Babe Ruth played baseball, there was no designated hitter rule in effect. The designated hitter rule allows a bench player to hit for the pitcher during a baseball game.
Seven teams in the Major Leagues were in the hunt to attempt to sign Ohtani to join their baseball team before Ohtani has decided to sign his new contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim who had to pay $20 million dollars to the Ham-Fighters as compensation for the rights to pitch and play the designated hitter for the American League West Division team.
Ohtani will be facing the challenge of playing in the Major Leagues since the regular season in the Major League is 162 games compared to 146 regular season game in the Nippon Professional Baseball Leagues.
Hopefully Othani will be as successful with the Angels as former Los Angeles Dodgers left handed pitcher Fernando Valenzuela who led the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series championship in 1981. Valenzuela like Ruth was a pretty good hitter as well as an ace pitcher.
I used to play Little League baseball in Panama before I found my true calling in bowling since it is easier to knock down ten pins was easier than to hit a baseball.,
I don’t keep up with baseball but wanted to visit just the same.