OAKLAND — Aside from the usual hoopla that surrounds Opening Day, the A’s are the first big league club to get a tate of “Ohtani-Mania.”
Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, also known as the “Japanese Babe Ruth,” was in the Angels starting lineup Thursday afternoon batting eighth as the designated hitter. The two-way star is also scheduled to make his pitching debut Sunday as the Angels starting pitcher against the A’s.
“There’s limited video on him. We saw a few at-bats in the spring. You kind of have to play it by ear,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.