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Is Shohei Ohtani a Liability for the Angels?

By: Kyle Sullivan

Shohei Ohtani is a SP/DH for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Ohtani is a great pure hitter and a hard throwing pitcher. He is a one of kind player. A two way player.

Ohtani is a liability because he can't play the field,so if the Angels want him to hit, he has to be playing DH (designated hitter). That forces the Angels to put Albert Pujols at first base to keep his bat in the lineup. Pujols isn't the best fielder either. But Ohtani is the DH so Pujols can't. If Pujols could play DH with Ohtani in the field somewhere, (probably OF) that could open up spots for players like Matt Thaiss and Jared Walsh.

Walsh hit 85 home runs in the minor leagues and Thaiss has a good bat at the plate and is a good fielder aswell. But with Ohtani in the lineup and he HAS to play DH, that means that there is no spot for Walsh and Thaiss and Pujols has to play the field.

Ohtani is a great pitcher and a great hitter, but he wants to be successful in the Major Leagues he should probably pick one or the other. If I was the Angels GM/Owner/Manager, I would keep Ohtani as a pitcher, which is the position the Angels need most, which would make him more valuable. It would also help out his team.

I think Shohei Ohtani is a great player but he clogs up the DH/1B spot and could help the Angels #1 issue, which is there pitching.