Shohei Ohtani has Improved the Angels Offense

Ever since the Two-Way Star has returned to action from his Tommy John surgery, Designated Hitter Shohei Ohtani has been a presence in the middle of the Angels lineup behind star Center Fielder Mike Trout.

Ohtani, exclusively as a designated hitter this season has produced a slash line of .248/.326/.416 with 1 double, 6 Home Runs and 22 RBI. Ohtani has helped the Angels lineup in so many different ways and the numbers prove that he has helped the Angels offense.

The Angels had averaged 4.65 runs per game through the team’s first 34 games. Since Ohtani’s return on Tuesday, May 7th against the Detroit Tigers, the Angels have averaged 5.48 runs per game in 33 games through June 10th.

During the team’s first 34 games the Angels had a batting average of .240 with an On-Base Percentage of .321. The team also had a walk percentage of 9.7% and strikeout a percentage of 15.6%.

In the team’s last 33 games since Ohtani’s 2019 debut, the team has had an average of .279 and has carried On-Base Percentage of .355. The team’s walk percentage went up slightly to 9.9% and the strikeout percentage went up to 17.4%. Those four categories increased and there is the reason to believe that Shohei is a big reason for that.

The Angels have yet to have a lineup that contains their best players as they started the season without two of their top three power hitters in Ohtani and Left Fielder Justin Upton.

There is some optimism that this offense could be even better as they have not been with those two guys and Mike Trout in the same lineup. Justin Upton has started a rehab assignment for his left toe injury and if all goes well he should be returning sometime on the Angels upcoming three-city road trip. The road trip includes a four-game set versus the Tampa Bay Rays, a four-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays, and ending with a three-game set with the St. Louis Cardinals.