Shohei Ohtani manages to pull off an absolutely incredible feat almost every game, and Thursday’s matchup with the Boston Red Sox was no exception.
He hit one of the deepest singles you’ll ever see in a big-league game.
Ohtani — the starting pitcher for the game — stepped up to the plate in the fourth inning with Taylor Ward on first base, and he ripped a deep shot to straightaway center field. Now, Fenway Park has notoriously strange dimensions, and the wall jets out towards right-center field at the 420 mark. That’s normally tough enough for any outfielder, but Jackie Bradley Jr. also had to deal with the sun.
He lost the ball in the warning track as it hit the wall and ricocheted back off his leg.
Sho Close ✅
Shohei Ohtani gets on base on a near home run in the 4th inning against the Red Sox. Ohtani currently has five strikeouts as the Halos' pitcher. 😎
Credit: Ballys#大谷翔平 #Ohtani #Angels #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/66RDwLM7h1— Anaheim Sports (@AnaheimSports1) May 5, 2022
But since nothing about Ohtani is predictable, the Angels star ended up at first base after all that — a 389-foot single that would have been a homer in 11 MLB ballparks.
Shohei Ohtani vs Rich Hill#GoHalos
Single ⚾
Exit velo: 109.2 mph
Launch angle: 36 deg
Proj. distance: 389 ftThis would have been a home run in 11/30 MLB ballparks
LAA (0) @ BOS (0)
🔺 4th pic.twitter.com/ycjZMMo5PR— Would it dong? (@would_it_dong) May 5, 2022
It wasn’t all Ohtani’s fault, though.
Ward, seeing the deep fly ball, went back to tag at first base rather than watch it halfway. So, Ohtani had to wait for Ward to take off, and by that point, he wasn’t in any rush to stretch it to a double since he was also pitching. Ward ended up at third base, but the Angels would strand both runners.
Still, fans had plenty of thoughts on that DEEP single.
