Shohei Ohtani made his Major League pitching debut on this date in 2018. By taking the mound, he became the first player since Babe Ruth in 1919 to start as a position player on Opening Day and then start a game on the mound within his team’s first ten games, according to Baseball Reference.
The Japanese phenom became the first modern-day two way player two seasons ago, winning the Rookie of the Year award after clubbing 22 home runs at the plate while pitching to a 3.31 ERA over ten starts on the mound.