Major League Baseball history has been made as Shohei Ohtani has become the first Japanese born player to hit for the cycle. The Los Angeles Angels phenom managed to hit for the cycle through four consecutive plate appearances making it the second time this season that a player has hit for the cycle. Jorge Polanco, a shortstop for the Minnesota Twins, hit for the cycle earlier in the year but did not make any such history as Ohtani did.
Shohei Ohtani is the first Japanese-born player in @MLB history to hit for the #cycle. pic.twitter.com/lW1fkqzYR5
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) June 14, 2019
The cycle was completed by Ohtani after a single in the seventh inning of the Angels contest with the Tampa Bay Rays. He managed to complete the cycle after mashing a home run in the first inning, doubling in the third inning, hitting a triple in fifth innning, followed by the single to complete it in the seventh inning.
In terms of the Angels, Ohtani’s cycle is the first cycle in franchise history since Mike Trout accomplished the feat back in 2013. Ohtani is currently “out injured” as a pitcher, he cannot resume pitching for some time though he is throwing again which shows signs of rehabilitation which is great for the Angels.
Ohtani has since returned to hitting this year however after he was cleared to do so in April of 2019. Since returning, he has hit in 30 games this season where he managed a .256/.331/.444 slash line with 7 home runs and 23 RBI for the Angels. Look for Ohtani to continue hitting for the Angels this season while his pitching days will not see a return until next season for the Angels. The 2018 Rookie of the Year looks to continue his success as a two-way player which has not been done besides way back in the days of Babe Ruth. Ohtani is looking to continue to make history in the new generation of baseball.
