Angels News: Shohei Ohtani Goes No. 1 Overall In 2017 Re-Draft

No surprise the two-way star is the consensus No.1 pick
Angels News: Shohei Ohtani Goes No. 1 Overall In 2017 Re-Draft
Angels News: Shohei Ohtani Goes No. 1 Overall In 2017 Re-Draft /
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The Los Angeles Angels stuck gold when they signed two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in 2017. Ohtani had plenty of options to choose from, and luckily for the Angels, he decided on them via international signing. 

Since entering the league and joining the Angels, he's dominated on the mound and at the batter's box. Ohtani has made the Halos worth watching and is a must-see when he's doing work. But what if Shohei was draft eligible in 2017 instead of an international free agent? 

Bleacher Report's MLB columnist Joel Reuter looked back at this draft class and re-drafted, including international signings. Reuter has Ohtani going No. 1 overall (by a landslide) and landing with the Minnesota Twins instead of the Angels. 

1. Minnesota Twins: RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani

Actual Pick: SS Royce Lewis

Ohtani's Actual Draft Position: International signing (LAA, $2.3 million bonus)

Can you imagine the level of tanking that would have occurred during the 2016 season if Shohei Ohtani had been a draft-eligible player for 2017? Similar to Victor Wembanyama playing professionally in France this year while NBA teams salivate over the idea of building their franchise around his unique skill set, Ohtani spent the 2016 season suiting up for the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan. He hit .322/.416/.588 with 22 home runs and 67 RBI in 382 plate appearances and went 10-4 with a 1.86 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 174 strikeouts in 140 innings on the mound, tossing four complete games and one shutout. His all-encompassing talent and massive impact make him a no-brainer for the No. 1 spot in this redraft, even with some dynamic young talent to follow.

Looking back at this draft class, it is loaded with talent; however, there is no doubt that Ohtani would be the consensus No. 1 overall pick. There is nothing Ohtani can't do, making him the best player in the game today. 

The 28-year-old has been in the league since 2018 and has already shattered multiple records. He is a must-watch talent and will be highly coveted this upcoming off-season. The Halos struck gold, but will they be able to retain it? We will see, but no surprise here that Ohtani goes number one in his potential draft class. 


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