TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — It was again to enterprise as traditional for Shohei Ohtani on Friday.

The 2-way star returned to Los Angeles Angels camp after his MVP efficiency within the World Baseball Traditional. Three days after hanging out Mike Trout to clinch the WBC title for Japan in opposition to america in Miami, Ohtani was on the again fields in Tempe, pitching in a minor league sport in opposition to some Arizona Diamondbacks farmhands.

Friday’s outing was to maintain Ohtani on schedule for his opening day begin subsequent Thursday in Oakland. He confronted 19 batters, strolling one and hanging out eight. He allowed three hits, together with a house run to Gavin Conticello, an eighth-round draft decide for Arizona in 2021.

One of many different two singles was by Druw Jones, the Diamondbacks’ first-round decide final season and the son of 10-time Gold Glove heart fielder Andruw Jones.

“The sport at present was to stand up to my pitch rely, get used to the pitch clock once more and utilizing the PitchCom,” Ohtani mentioned via an interpreter after throwing 78 pitches. “All is effectively on my finish.”

“I felt like with all of the pitches and all of the depth of the Traditional, I used to be already prepared for opening day. At the moment was simply fine-tuning stuff, getting used (to the brand new guidelines),” he mentioned.

Ohtani solely made one begin for the Angels earlier than leaving for Japan, for whom he pitched 9 2-3 innings with a 1.86 ERA in three WBC appearances. The final outing was Tuesday’s ninth-inning look in opposition to america, the place he fanned Trout on a full-count slider to set off a celebration.

The celebration was short-lived although, as Ohtani returned to his MLB crew on Wednesday so he may start making ready for the common season — after which the 28-year-old will likely be a free agent. He was runner-up within the American League MVP voting after hitting 34 homers and driving in 95 runs for the Angels final season, plus posting a 2.33 ERA in 28 begins with a 15-9 file.

He didn’t bat Friday, however Angels supervisor Phil Nevin mentioned Ohtani would be the Angels’ DH for the three video games within the Freeway Sequence in Los Angeles in opposition to Dodgers starting Sunday that may conclude the exhibition season. Trout, who didn’t return to Arizona after the WBC, will meet the Angels there.

Tuesday’s reduction look was on a day he was scheduled for a between-starts aspect session within the bullpen. It simply occurred to return on the massive stage.

Nevin mentioned he watched his two superstars go face to face “similar to every other fan.” He was able to see Ohtani shut.

“I wasn’t apprehensive about him in any respect,” Nevin mentioned. “We had that deliberate all alongside. I simply wasn’t in a position to relay that to you guys but. We knew that was a chance. I belief him and I belief that he is aware of his physique in addition to anyone.”

As for Ohtani, the joy was one thing he hadn’t felt in a very long time, because the Angels haven’t been contenders regardless of the efforts of Ohtani and Trout.

“First time pitching in a playoff ambiance like that since my days in Japan,” Ohtani mentioned. “I’ve by no means skilled a World Sequence, however I assume it will be one thing related.”

Nevin mentioned he could be tempted to make use of Ohtani in reduction in the identical approach if the Angels have been in a position to get into the postseason.

“I obtained loads of texts … who am I rooting for, how am I feeling,” the supervisor mentioned. “I can inform you precisely what I used to be feeling. I used to be feeling that that is the best sport on the earth. There’s no different sport, no different scenario that may create that type of drama and ambiance, one on one, the 2 greatest gamers on the earth. It’s what makes our sport nice.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports