Shohei Ohtani's incredible two-way abilities continue to amaze as the Los Angeles Angels star etched his name in the record books during a remarkable June. Against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon, Ohtani blasted his 14th home run of the month, setting a new Angels franchise record for most home runs in a single month.
This ninth-inning two-run shot surpassed the previous team record of 13 home runs shared by Ohtani himself, Albert Pujols, and Tim Salmon. Angels manager Phil Nevin praised Ohtani's remarkable feat, highlighting his ability to consistently impress despite facing challenging pitches. While the Angels ultimately lost the game 9-7, Ohtani's performance remained a bright spot, going 1-3 at the plate with two walks.
Ohtani's dominance throughout June extended beyond home runs. He led all of Major League Baseball in RBIs (28) and OPS (1.415). His pitching prowess was also on display, boasting a 2-2 record with a 3.26 ERA over 30.1 innings. Teammate Mike Trout marveled at Ohtani's historic month, describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.
Earlier in the week, Ohtani achieved another milestone, becoming the first American League pitcher in nearly six decades to hit two home runs and strike out at least ten batters in a single game. He accomplished this feat against the White Sox, launching solo home runs in the first and seventh innings while allowing only one earned run and striking out 10 batters over 6.1 innings. Ohtani currently leads MLB with 29 home runs and holds a 7-3 pitching record with a 3.02 ERA.
As Ohtani approaches free agency after the 2023 season, his extraordinary performance has fueled speculation about a potentially record-breaking contract, solidifying his status as one of baseball's most captivating and valuable players.
