Angels News: Shohei Ohtani Ranked Among The Best Strikeout Artists Today

Shohei is a strikeout machine

Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani has been a true force to be reckoned with this season. His exceptional abilities, both as a batter and a pitcher, have garnered him a well-deserved reputation as one of the best players in the game.

While he has always been recognized for his remarkable hitting prowess, his incredible performance on the mound has truly shined this year, putting him in the running for his first American League Cy Young award.

One of the key factors contributing to Ohtani's Cy Young candidacy is his impressive strikeout rate. As of Monday, Ohtani sits at 90 strikeouts, ranking him second in that category throughout the entire league. Ohtani's arsenal makes him one of the most challenging pitchers to decipher. Because of this, MLB expert Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report ranked the two-way superstar as the second-best strikeout artist in the league, just behind Atlanta Braves righty Spencer Strider. 

Claim to Strikeout Fame:

Leads MLB (min. 200 IP) with 33.7 K% since 2022.

In all seriousness, the strikeout rate up there speaks for itself and nobody should need to be told that it's built on a foundation of electric stuff. Namely: a fastball that touches

101 mph

, baseball's

best sweeper

and a splitter that still

bamboozles lefties

.

What sets Ohtani apart from other pitchers is his extensive repertoire of pitches. Ohtani's strikeouts per 9 innings pitched, at 12.4, place him in a third throughout the entire league. These numbers speak volumes about his dominance and ability to overpower opposing hitters. 

As the season progresses, it wouldn't be surprising to see Ohtani's pitching duties ramp up even further as the Angels push harder for a postseason berth.

Whether he secures the prestigious AL Cy Young award or not, Ohtani's impact on the diamond is undeniable, and his contributions to the Angels' success this season cannot be understated.