If you’re a baseball romantic like us, then we’re positive Monday night’s remarkable statistic prior to the Angels-Rangers game definitely made you love this sport even more than you could possibly imagine.
As Shohei Ohtani started on the mound for the Angels, this event marked the first time in 100 years that a pitcher started a game while leading the league in HRs.
The last person to do it? Babe Ruth. The Great Bambino.
Back on June 13th 1921, Ruth’s start marked his only start of that year’s regular season and came as he led the majors with 19 home runs.
Leading the league currently with seven home runs, Ohtani’s produced a .286/.321/.662 stat line within 81 plate appearances. Though his time on the mound this season hasn’t been quite as amazing as his bats, he’s allowed just three runs on three hits within 8.1 innings pitched while producing 14 strikeouts with 11 batters walked.
It’s also important to remember that this guy just underwent Tommy John surgery this past off-season!
What’s pretty remarkable as well is that Ohtani was referred to as the Japanese Babe Ruth during his time within Nippon Professional Baseball, so this moment is only fitting for him as he continues to dominate both at the plate and on the mound.
