
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani became the first Japanese-born MLB player and eighth Halo in franchise history to hit for the cycle on Thursday night in Tampa Bay.
Ohtani, 24, underwent ulnar collateral reconstruction surgery in 2018 — pressing pause on his promising pitching career — but was able to return to strictly hitting duties for the start of the 2019 season.
The 2018 American League Rookie of the Year entered Thursday slashing .256/.331/.444 with seven homers, 23 RBIs, a .330 weighted on-base average and 110 weighted runs created plus rating.
Shohei Ohtani is the first Japanese-born player in @MLB history to hit for the #cycle. pic.twitter.com/lW1fkqzYR5
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) June 14, 2019
Ohtani struck early, parking a Ryan Yarbrough two-seamer over the wall in left-center field for a three-run dinger in the first, putting the Angels ahead 3-0.
He stroked a leadoff double in the third, laced a sharply-hit triple into right field in the fifth, then completed the feat with a two-out single in the top of the seventh.
There’s been no timetable set for Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound, but it appears he’ll provide the Angels with a boost regardless.





