Shohei Ohtani is such a must-watch talent that he can turn a normally mundane moment into something that wows MLB fans. That’s exactly what happened on Monday night.
The Los Angeles Angels beat the Red Sox, 2-1, thanks to a late go-ahead home run from Mickey Moniak. And really, Ohtani struggled for much of the game at the plate against Tanner Houck who had the Angels star off-balanced on two strikeouts.
But to borrow a line from Space Jam, Ohtani even looks good when he strikes out.
In his third-inning at-bat and eventual strikeout, Ohtani wildly missed an 89 mph splitter from Houck. Ohtani swung so hard that his helmet came flying off, but of course, Ohtani casually caught the helmet on a no-look grab.
Shohei Ohtani looking terrible and fantastic simultaneously. pic.twitter.com/dWu3KFoI95
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 23, 2023
How can such a wild swing look so cool? Only Ohtani can make that work.
Even the Red Sox broadcast went on to compliment Ohtani’s hair after that swing because why not?
R Sox's narrator guys want to be Shohei Ohtani lol
今日のレッドソックスの実況。
大谷くんになってみたいらしい😂😂
面白過ぎたので字幕つけました~#大谷翔平 pic.twitter.com/uize8MdxLt— 🦄 (@Oho_sy0Z265a6o) May 23, 2023
You know you’ve reached a level of superstardom when a first-pitch swing and miss becomes highlights. Ohtani is definitely at that point now.
This was how Twitter reacted
As only he can do https://t.co/afml6vej65
— TheInfieldFly (@the_infield_fly) May 23, 2023
He does this a lot. One of my favorite cool Shohei moves. Who else does this!
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) May 23, 2023
So smooth even when he's not
— Christopher Reive (@ChrisReive) May 23, 2023
Who needs a properly fitting helmet anyway? Ohtani doesn’t.