Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels Becomes Further Intertwined with Babe Ruth in History

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels is the best player in the sport. There's nothing he can't do, and he proved it this week, making or coming close to making history in a multitude of ways, including something that brings him even closer to Babe Ruth.

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels is a freak of nature.

We know this. It's well established. He's doing things we've never seen on a field -- and he just keeps doing them.

It seems as if every time that Ohtani takes the field, he's making history, or close to it, and that happened multiple times this week.

First: The ESPN Stats & Info account tweeted this on Wednesday night:

"Shohei Ohtani is the 5th player in the Modern Era (since 1900) with 500 hits as a batter and 500 Ks as a pitcher, joining Smoky Joe Wood, Red Ruffing, Walter Johnson and Babe Ruth. Ohtani's 13th K of the game tonight was the 500th of his career. The Angels are losing 4-3."

Shohei Ohtani is the 5th player in the Modern Era (since 1900) with 500 hits as a batter and 500 Ks as a pitcher, joining Smoky Joe Wood, Red Ruffing, Walter Johnson and Babe Ruth.

Ohtani's 13th K of the game tonight was the 500th of his career.

The Angels are losing 4-3. pic.twitter.com/anUDUuhLbl

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 4, 2023

Then they tweeted this:

It took Ohtani just 388 2/3 innings as a starter to log his 500th career strikeout. According to @EliasSports, that's the 2nd-fewest innings as a starter to reach 500 strikeouts, trailing only Corbin Burnes (365 IP).

Then the account @OptaSTATS tweeted this about Ohtani on Wednesday as well:

"Shohei Ohtani over the last 7 days for the @Angels: 11 hits (batting) 21 strikeouts (pitching) No other MLB player in the modern era has had a 10-hit week and a 20-strikeout week during the same season (let alone during the same week)."

Shohei Ohtani over the last 7 days for the @Angels:

11 hits (batting)
21 strikeouts (pitching)

No other MLB player in the modern era has had a 10-hit week and a 20-strikeout week during the same season (let alone during the same week). pic.twitter.com/saCXpjZDqc

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 4, 2023

Currently, Ohtani is hitting .308 with seven home runs and 19 RBI. He's added five stolen bases and has a .921 OPS.

On the mound, Ohtani is 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA. He's got 59 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched.

The Angels swept the Cardinals this week and are now 18-14 on the season. They are one game behind the Texas Rangers for first place in the American League West.

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