SHOHEI OHTANI’S 2023 SEASON IN REVIEW
In his sixth Major League season with the Angels, the 29-year-old has compiled a 10-5 record with a 3.14 ERA (132 IP – 46 ER) and 167 strikeouts in 23 pitching starts, while holding opponents to a .184 average (85/463). As a hitter, he had 102 runs scored, 26 doubles, eight triples, 44 home runs, 95 RBI, 91 walks, 20 stolen bases and a 1.066 OPS.
Below are some additional accomplishments this season:
THE HITTER
- Ranks in Top Four in the American League in home runs (44; 1st), total bases (325; 1st), extra-base hits (78; 1st), slugging (.654; 1st), OBP (.412; 1st), OPS (1.066; 1st), intentional walks (21; 2nd), triples (8; 3rd), runs (102; T-3rd), walks (91; T-4th), and batting average (.304; 4th).
- Recorded second career 40+ HR season (hit 46 HR in 2021) and was the first player in the Majors to reach the 40 HR mark in 2023.
- Third player in Angels history with multiple 40+ HR seasons, joining Troy Glaus (2000 & 2001) and Mike Trout (2015, 2019 & 2022).
- Third player all-time to record an extra-base hit, walk and run scored in six straight games (June 12-17)...The only other players to do so are Babe Ruth (7 straight games in 1921) and Barry Bonds (6 straight games in 1997).
- Only player in the Majors to tally 6+ triples and 34+ HR this season (third consecutive year as the only player to do so).
THE PITCHER
- Leads the A.L. (min. 130 IP) with a .184 (85/463) opponent batting average.
- Finished year with an active streak of 20.2 consecutive innings pitched without allowing an earned run.
- Allowed one-or-fewer earned runs in 13 of 23 starts.
- Pitched first career complete game and first shutout on July 27 at Detroit in Game 1 of a doubleheader…Held Tigers to one hit and three walks with eight strikeouts.
- In addition to leading the league in opponent batting average, ranked among American League leaders at the time of his final start in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (11.39; 2nd), whiff rate (30.9%; 2nd), ERA (3.14; 3rd), WHIP (1.06; 4th), strikeouts (167; 5th), winning percentage (.667; T5th) and wins (10; T8th).
TWO-WAY
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Recorded 10+ pitching wins and 30+ HR for a second consecutive season.
- Babe Ruth (1918) is the only other player with 10+ wins and 10+ HR.
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In 23 games as the Angels starting pitcher, batted .372 (29/78) with three doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 15 RBI.
- Seven HR in games pitched tied for the second-most in a season all-time (Wes Ferrell – 9 HR in games pitched for Cleveland in 1931).
- Made nine pitching starts while also leading the Majors in home runs as a batter.
- Finished one hit shy of hitting for the cycle in three different pitching starts.
- Served as the Angels starting designated hitter in all of his pitching starts.
ALL-STAR
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Selected to the All-Star Game as both a pitcher and position player for a third consecutive season.
- Only player in MLB history to be selected as an All-Star as both a position player and a pitcher.
- Was the American League’s leading vote-getter in Phase 1 of fan voting and joined Rod Carew (1979) and Trout (2019) as Angels players to lead the A.L. in fan voting.
- Joined Hall of Famer David Ortiz (2011-13) as the only players to receive three straight fan elections at designated hitter.
AWARDS AND HONORS
- 2023 Angels MVP Award (third straight year voted by teammates as Angels MVP).
- Two-time American League Player of the Month (June & July).
- Three-time American League Player of the Week (June 12-18, June 26-July 2 & July 24-30).
SHO OFF
- Would join Troy Glaus (2000) as the only Angels players to finish a season as the American League home run leader
- Finished the season with the most popular player jersey in MLB based on sales from MLBShop.com
- On June 27 vs. White Sox, became the first A.L. player to hit multiple home runs and have 10+ pitching strikeouts in the same game since Cleveland’s Pedro Ramos on July 31, 1963 (Game 2) vs. Angels
- First player in MLB history with 15+ SB & 40+ HR through his team’s first 114 games
- On July 27 at Detroit, became first player ever to pitch a complete game shutout in one game of a doubleheader and hit a home run in the other (hit two homers in the nightcap after tossing a shutout in Game 1)
- Leads the Major Leagues with a 10.1 bWAR this season (the next highest A.L. total belongs to Gerrit Cole – 7.4)
- From June 12-15 at Texas, became the third player since 1901 with 4+ home runs and 7+ walks in a four-game series, joining Detroit’s Hank Greenberg (Sept. 18-19, 1940 vs. Philadelphia A’s) and Pittsburgh’s Ralph Kiner (Aug. 3-5, 1951 vs. Phillies)
**Research provided by Elias Sports Bureau, STATS, ESPN Stats & Info, Baseball Reference, Sportradar, Fangraphs and MLB**
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