Breakout: SP Shohei Ohtani
Over five seasons in Japan, Ohtani went 42-15 with a 2.52 ERA and 624 strikeouts over 543 innings.
His walk rate (3.3 – 3.8 in 2018) needed some improvement while offering a plus strikeout rate (10.3 – 11.0 in 2018).
His best season came in 2015 (15-5 with a 2.24 ERA and 196 Ks over 160.2 innings).
In his first action in the majors, Ohtani flashed electric upside in three starts (three runs over 21 innings with 32 Ks). He allowed two runs or fewer in five of his first eight games, leading to a 3.