I love this shot, you can see Ohtani's grip on his devastating split finger pitch. .fFwXhn{margin:0;}/*!sc*/ Ohtani had his off-speed pitches working all night. .hspSPq:hover{cursor:pointer;background-color:#0462CC;}/*!sc*/ .ihHuHi{font-size:19px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:8px;}/*!sc*/ A change in pitch usage could take Shohei Ohtani's game (on the mound) to the next level. Shohei Ohtani's Splitter Is The Most Untouchable Pitch In Baseball .dMKvOx{line-height:1.2;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g166[id="Styles__VideoPlayerContainer-t94iyc-0"]{content:"XOHMa,"}/*!sc*/ Fujinami only needed 13 pitches to get through the first, which saw Angels hitters consistently late on a fastball that sat at 97-98 mph throughout his outing. There was never a specific number in mind other than go pitch, go play, well watch, talk about it, and if you need a break, well give you a break, and if not, keep playing. .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team.p-search-item--es:first-of-type:before{content:'Equipos';}/*!sc*/ Ditching the cutter and utilizing the splitter more may just be the change that could take Ohtani to the next level as a pitcher. Los Angeles Angels (35) The right-hander induced 17 swinging strikes and two called strikes with the pitch, which averaged 89.2 mph, and he struck out the side Seth Brown, Yan Gomes and Elvis Andrus with splitters in the seventh. Angels' Historic All-Star Shohei Ohtani Just Keeps Adding to Year for If you read the scouting reports written before Ohtanis debut, pitching was always supposed to be his strongest suit. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani helped the Angels end a five-game losing streak with a 110-pitch outing against the Rays Sunday. .groqnz.markdown,.groqnz.photo figcaption,.groqnz.oembed .social-embed{padding:0 16px;}/*!sc*/ Its been no more complicated than that, really.. .mHQYb .p-search__list:focus{outline:0;}/*!sc*/ But there are at least a few signs that Ohtani might cool down from his early 1.310 on-base plus slugging start at the plate. data-styled.g159[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Input-sc-d7sh2p-4"]{content:"kwDmpG,"}/*!sc*/ Shohei Ohtani Slow Motion Mechanics and Pitch Grips FanGraphs 12.7K subscribers Subscribe 366 Share 31K views 1 year ago From LAA at ARI, June 2021 Show more Show more Complete Pitching. They went 2-for-55 against it -- an .036 batting average. Ohtani would be wise to take a lesson from his fellow Californian pitcher. Angels: Shohei Ohtani made some wild MLB history in win over Marlins data-styled.g147[id="Styles__MarkdownContainer-dxqlie-0"]{content:"eJdqRG,"}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff') format('woff');font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ main{display:block;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){article > header{padding:0;}}/*!sc*/ About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button-menu{-webkit-flex:0 0 auto;-ms-flex:0 0 auto;flex:0 0 auto;}/*!sc*/ Hes working so hard this camp to prove to not only other people, but to himself, that he is this type of player. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__tagline--no-sponsor{margin-right:0;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu__link{display:block;padding:10px;color:#081c3b;background-color:#f7f7f7;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ Hes good enough. @Neil_Paine, MLB (783 posts) .hUHmCp > article{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(12,minmax(0,1fr));grid-gap:24px;color:#000000;}/*!sc*/ His splitter, thrown off of that, takes a vertical dive. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group-title{color:#aaaaaa;font-weight:700;font-size:12px;background-color:#ffffff;text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ His first-inning punchouts of David Fletcher and Jake Lamb both came on what catcher Shea Langeliers described as "nasty" splitters, which were thrown in the 91-92 mph range. Kyle Crick (PIT): +10.8 inches above avg. Thats it.. Then Abreu, Luis Robert, Yon Moncada, Nick Solak, Willie Calhoun, Jose Trevino, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, Joey Gallo, Kiner-Falefa again, Brock Holt, Kiner-Falefa a third time, Gallo a second time, Adolis Garca, David Dahl, Trevino again and Gallo once more. Highest whiff rate with a single pitch type, 2021 Shohei was on the other side -- who is one of the best players in the world, Emerson said. They whiffed on 53 of those swings -- a 56% swing-and-miss rate. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner span{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ When Shohei Ohtani first signed for the Los Angeles Angels as a mythical two-way player from the Far East with an ace arm and parking-lot power, baseball fans couldn't help themselves. In 2021, it was the cutter he introduced in April and started throwing regularly in mid-May. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner{opacity:1;}/*!sc*/ Albie Pearson, an original Angels player known as the Littlest Angel, dies at 88, Even a Shohei Ohtani batting practice session is a spectacle to behold, Ohtani was definitely feeling the splitter, Standout performance by Shohei Ohtani not enough as Angels fall to As in 10th, Beyond sobbing girls and screaming homers, Angels see another side of Shohei Ohtani, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick. data-styled.g148[id="Styles__FigureContainer-iefwtj-0"]{content:"fFwXhn,"}/*!sc*/ He's averaging 89.9 mph on the split-finger in 2021, up over two-and-a-half ticks from the 87.3 mph he averaged as a rookie in 2018. data-styled.g139[id="Styles__ContributorContainer-sc-9g3k0d-0"]{content:"dLQAwR,"}/*!sc*/ \n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","type":"rich","width":550},"type":"oembed"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"First, here's how Ohtani's sinker compares to his normal four-seamer.\n\n**4-seamer:** 97.2 mph / 2,220 rpm / 14.6\" of drop / 3.3\" of break \n**Sinker:** 97.6 mph / 1,994 rpm / 21.6\" of drop / 16.0\" of break\n\nIt's the difference you'd hope for. @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__leagues{min-width:600px;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__divisions{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__divisions > *{-webkit-flex:1 0 200px;-ms-flex:1 0 200px;flex:1 0 200px;margin-left:0;}}/*!sc*/ There's just . .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-thumbnail--team{margin:0 auto 0 0.25rem;height:40px;width:45px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g20[id="imagestyle__ImageWrapper-sc-xw1tzz-0"]{content:"evGxub,gkgVOa,cWQXyp,"}/*!sc*/ I spoke with Perry [Minasian, Angels general manager] in spring training, and we decided just to watch and see how hes doing and make decisions based on where hes at during the course of the year. @media (min-width:500px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{-webkit-flex-basis:60%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:60%;flex-basis:60%;}}/*!sc*/ .dLQAwR .contributor__text--name{color:#222222;font-size:1rem;font-weight:600;line-height:1;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ It was one thing to hear about Ohtani's 100 mph fastball and watch the Nippon Professional Baseball highlights on YouTube in the winter of 2017-18. Im going to be pitching next year and beyond, so I think this whole experience is gonna help me down the road. .mHQYb .p-search__list{z-index:50;min-width:250px;border-radius:6px;-webkit-mask-image:-webkit-radial-gradient(#ffffff,#000000);}/*!sc*/ .sczZi{border-bottom:1px solid #dddddd;border-top:1px solid #dddddd;font-size:1rem;margin:32px 16px;padding:32px 0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g144[id="Styles__StickyHeaderContainer-sc-1wye7kw-0"]{content:"ggWmAj,"}/*!sc*/ The only counterevidence to Ohtanis dominance is sample sizehes thrown 158 splitters this yearwhich sums up how thoroughly the Angels pitcher is owning opposing batters right now. Shohei Ohtani shines in Angels loss to the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Ohtani's splitter gets almost 34 inches of vertical drop compared to only 14 inches of vertical drop on his four-seamer, so it . @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-semibold.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-semibold.woff') format('woff');font-weight:600;font-style:normal;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu__link:hover{background-color:#e2e2e2;color:#002867;border-radius:3px;}/*!sc*/ That's crazy. (The splitter, which is thrown with the index and middle fingers spread wide over the seams, isnt a true fastball in the same sense as the four-seamer; its more like a change-up that looks like a fastball to hitters before abruptly dropping at the last second.) Ohtani was scheduled to start Friday nights series opener against the As but was scratched after experiencing some general soreness in his pitching arm following a game of catch on Wednesday. No one else has been so lucky. [type="number"]::-webkit-inner-spin-button,[type="number"]::-webkit-outer-spin-button{height:auto;}/*!sc*/ .huJzbO{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}/*!sc*/ ","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"ExternalEmbed","data":{"__typename":"ExternalEmbedContent","html":", Shohei Ohtani, Four Seam Fastball & Two Seamer, Overlay pic.twitter.com/uxIY5SjJdI, Ohtani, sinker/sliderSinker: 16 inches of break Slider: 17 inches of break pic.twitter.com/uxkMduupaT, Ohtani 7th-inning strikeouts 98.4 mph 4-seamer, 91.2 mph splitterAnd he's into it pic.twitter.com/wvXctWsB1G. Shohei Ohtani, a fearsome pitcher AND prodigious hitter in Japan, announced his ambitions to take his dual talents to the Majors. In that start, Ohtani threw 59% four-seamers, 24% splitters and 15% sliders. so impressive as both a pitcher and hitter, carried a perfect game into the seventh inning, How The Federal Reserve Is The Shadow Branch Of The Government, Why Original Predictions About The War In Ukraine Were So Off. Angels' Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon rejoin lineup as Shohei Ohtani two sup{top:-0.5em;}/*!sc*/ They've whiffed on 17 of those swings. .kKeedG:hover{border-bottom:none;color:#0048AB;}/*!sc*/ The Angels are playing host to the Chicago White Sox this week, and Ohtani is set to pitch. Highest whiff rate by SP on a single pitch typeSince Ohtani's MLB debut1) Shohei Ohtani's splitter, 2018 -- 56.4%2) Blake Snell's curveball, 2019 -- 54.9%3) Patrick Corbin's slider, 2018 -- 53.6%4) Blake Snell's curveball, 2018 -- 53.4%5) Kyle Gibson's slider, 2019 -- 52.6%Minimum 75 swings against that pitch type. data-styled.g155[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Form-sc-d7sh2p-0"]{content:"fAmXvR,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search{display:block;position:relative;color:#333333;width:inherit;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-icon__button{background:none;border:none;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav{opacity:0;display:none;left:-9999px;position:absolute;margin:0px;-webkit-transition:opacity 100ms ease 100ms;transition:opacity 100ms ease 100ms;pointer-events:initial;border-top:solid 4px #002867;border-radius:0 0 6px 6px;box-shadow:0px 0px 14px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.25);}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__content{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-box-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__item,.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__group-title{padding:11px 8px;white-space:nowrap;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__item:not(.header__subnav--teams__team),.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__group-title{display:block;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__group{-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__group-title{background-color:#ffffff;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item{position:relative;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item:hover .header__nav-top__nav-item__text,.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{opacity:1;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true']{border-bottom:none;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true']::after{opacity:1;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__subnav{display:block;opacity:1;top:52px;left:0px;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__subnav--pin-to-right{right:0;left:auto;}}/*!sc*/ All of this obviously comes with the usual small-sample caveats and then some. He makes adjustments constantly, but the biggest difference from when I first saw him last year to now is overall command of all of his pitches.. Ohtani throws his four-seamer hard and true, with a little bit of rise. .blUWSx .share-list__item{position:absolute;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team + .p-search-item--player:before{border-top:1px solid #ddd;content:'Players';left:10px;right:10px;}/*!sc*/ Just a little more than a week into his major league career, Los Angeles Angels phenom Shohei Ohtani has been so impressive as both a pitcher and hitter that its difficult to decide which aspect of his play stands out most. .hYmwpY{display:block;}/*!sc*/ A few weeks before that, on April 8, when he took a perfect game into the seventh inning in his second MLB start, he fanned Marcus Semien with a 99.6 mph fastball for his personal-best strikeout velo in the big leagues. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-items{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;padding-top:2px;}/*!sc*/ Angels right-hander Shohei Ohtani, shown during a game in September, had a smooth spring-training outing Tuesday, pitching 2 1/3 innings without a pitch-clock violation. .blLcNM .content >:nth-last-child(2){border:none;margin-right:auto;padding-right:48px;}/*!sc*/ We only have a couple games left. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .account--logged-in.active::after{background:#057AFF;}/*!sc*/ Be the first one to comment on this story. Image source: baseball-pitching-tips.com. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .mlb-header--inner{margin:auto;max-width:none;position:relative;}/*!sc*/ And then you realize it's not even the best reason to watch Ohtani. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(1),.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(4){opacity:0;}/*!sc*/ Its plausible that Ohtani favors four-seam fastball to get strikes and set up the splitter when ahead in the count, because it tunnels well and gets whiffs. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__subnav{height:100%;overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:auto;overscroll-behavior:contain;touch-action:manipulation;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;}/*!sc*/ By Neil Paine Filed under MLB. Incredible catch. Ohtani had thrown only four-seamers since he joined the Majors; now he throws 100 mph and has two different fastballs. .mHQYb .p-search-item__team-logo--container{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;margin-left:auto;}/*!sc*/ Ohtani has been performing. On April 26th, Ohtani only threw 6.7% cutters, but he gave up a three-run homer to Nate Lowe on a cutter, so that is considered a cutter start. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:normal;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.account{-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;padding:0 0 0 4px;white-space:nowrap;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ Angels Enter Final Home Game of 2021 Looking to Spoil - Halos Heaven .hUHmCp > article .ad-bottom-right-container{margin-top:64px;}/*!sc*/ When hes feeling something, hes gonna stay with it and not force something else.. Ohtani added a cutter to his repertoire this season, but before his start against Boston last night, he was allowing a .445 wOBA and .348 average against the cutter. He has five total starts this season with cutter usage less than 3.5% and six starts with cutter usage greater than 14%. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight:hover{background-color:lighten;}/*!sc*/ The most shocking thing about Ohtanis splitter is that he doesnt use it more than 18.5% of the time. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{display:none;}/*!sc*/ [type="search"]::-webkit-search-decoration{-webkit-appearance:none;}/*!sc*/