The Los Angeles Angels took a major risk around the trade deadline, opting to keep Shohei Ohtani ahead of his free agency for a run at the American League wild card. That plan has seen the Angels fall entirely out of contention, and Ohtani’s season came to an end after separate UCL and oblique injuries.
Now, Ohtani could have easily checked out and left the team amid the tough injury news. After all, he’s likely played his last game with the Angels. But that wasn’t what we saw on Sunday from Ohtani.
He evidently had different plans … becoming an extra coach for the Angels.
Shohei, the Coach. pic.twitter.com/dBwskx96tf
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 17, 2023
During the Angels’ 5-3 loss to the Tigers, cameras captured footage of Ohtani walking through hitting mechanics with Zach Neto. It was a rough game for Neto, but Ohtani was there to pick up his teammate and help him through a brutal 2-for-36 slump.
Fans loved seeing that from Ohtani. Plus, bonus points for the water bottle tap on the bat boy’s helmet. He truly does it all.
This was how Twitter reacted
Shohei: "yeah, just wait on it then flick it 420"
Neto: 😐 https://t.co/eaYC3ybgEB— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) September 17, 2023
But the Internet told me he bailed on his team and I should hate him. The world is a lie. https://t.co/sPKpU1POmJ
— Insert fun name here. (@newboyx) September 17, 2023
So much respect for this guy. Maybe one of the most all around good guy athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch. https://t.co/RZIUM31wRz
— Dad Joke Champ (@manor98ND) September 17, 2023
Shohei, a three-way player ⚾️ https://t.co/9WunsOR1Ov
— Kay¹⁶ 🦄💎💎💎💎💎 (@kaylanurul) September 18, 2023
i remember in a tv feature during the wbc, one of his teammates kinda lightheartedly asked him to ‘teach us a few of things’
shohei’s response?
“hmm i dont rly know anything abt baseball 😅”
— 愛良⚾️🦄🐻❷ (@miyukifujin2) September 18, 2023
I was told he had given up on the angels. https://t.co/qJ3WlWFqaC
— Jake (@noblewtiogaer) September 17, 2023
wait MAYBE if we give him a third job they’ll finally win! https://t.co/4wPcHsGXbT
— janessa (@nessa_marks) September 18, 2023
he's officially a 3-way player now https://t.co/WSGulGBFLC
— • sarah • (@cloudycluey) September 18, 2023
john middleton mail this man a blank check https://t.co/2ZMSsK2NAZ
— su peisheng supremacist (@ZizekTheEchidna) September 18, 2023
