Shohei Ohtani Continues Historic Season, Hits 25th & 26th HR

BRONX, NY - JUNE 28: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels bats during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday, June 28, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani is continuing to impress all with his excellent play and milestones.

One of those milestones was becoming the fastest member of the Angels to reach 25 home runs on Sunday. It only took him 77 team games and that is something not even Mike Trout accomplished.

Ohtani homered in the top of the ninth inning to extend the Angels’ lead to 6-4 over the Tampa Bay Rays. Los Angeles held on for a 6-4 win and snapped a five-game losing streak behind Ohtani’s performance.

Ohtani is currently in the midst of a historic season. He is among baseball’s leaders in home runs (26), RBI’s (60) and OPS (1.031). As a pitcher, he has a 2.58 ERA in 11 starts, and 82 strikeouts across 59 ¹/₃ innings.

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Ohtani also surpassed a huge milestone by becoming one of two players in American League history to produce 25+ home runs, 10+ stolen bases and 75+ pitching strikeouts in his career. The only other player to achieve that feat is baseball legend Babe Ruth.

On Monday, the Japanese batter/pitcher made another highlight by hitting his 26th home run against the New York Yankees. On the first pitch and his first swing, he delivered a home run deep to right field in Yankee stadium.

“I’m telling you [he likes the big moment],” Angels manager Joe Maddon said of Ohtani, who did go hitless in his next three at-bats, striking out twice. “It was just the right way to start his trip to New York with him hitting a home run.”

The Angels star is blossoming into one of the game’s most exciting players.