Get to Know the Name Shohei Otani

The New York Yankees have a massive amount of salary coming off the books over the span of the next two seasons. Perhaps in that time, a 22-year-old phenom from Japan by the name of Shohei Otani will make his major league debut in the Bronx.

Have you ever seen the movie, The Scout? You know the one starring Albert Brooks as a crotchety old baseball scout for the…New York Yankees. Al Percolo (Brooks) down on his luck, looking for the next great prospect, heads down to Mexico to find that elusive golden goose.

There, on a baseball field that is home to wandering livestock, steps a once in a lifetime type talent, Steve Nebraska. Nebraska (as played by Brendan Fraser) can not only mash from both sides of the plate, but he’s also a starting pitcher with Aroldis Chapman-like velocity.

Well, folks, a real life Steve Nebraska can currently be found playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Japan’s Pacific League. At 6’4″, 200lbs, the left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing Shohei Otani may not rival the physical makeup of the fictitious Nebraska, but he sure can play the part athletically.

Since Otani’s debut with The Fighters back in 2013, his career slash line while playing outfield and/or DH consists of .269/.339/.477. He’s also slugged 29 home runs and 101 RBI in just 738 plate appearances. As for 2016 by itself, Otani appears to be rounding into an all-around professional hitter, amassing a .351/.459/.642 slash line, to go along with 11 homers and 33 RBI in only 181 at-bats.

Did I mention Otani has thrown the fastest recorded ball in NPB history, at 101mph! Since his debut at age 18, Otani has been superb on the mound, compiling a 37-13 record, 2.55 ERA, and 561 strikeouts in 493.2 innings. As for 2016, he’s working on an 8-4 record, 2.02 ERA, and 140 strikeouts in 115 innings pitched.

Having been issued NO. 11, which was previously worn by Ham-Fighter great Yu Darvish, has done nothing but inspire this jack-of-all-trades to become a three-time NPB All-Star; being named to the 2015 Pacific League Best Nine, the 2015 Pacific League ERA leader, and the 2015 Pacific League Battery Award winner.

Back in early June, Otani pitched seven shutout innings while striking out eight. Impressive unto itself, he would further grow his legend by throwing 31 pitches between 99-101mph. 

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Otani’s arsenal consists of his bread-n-butter fastball, a high 80’s splitter that swan-dives like no other, a low 80’s slider, and a mid 70’s, 11-5 curveball meant to really confuse the opposition. He also has a 60mph changeup in the making that acts as a bit of an eephus pitch.

With a flawless delivery, wonderful mechanics, and an unparalleled athleticism, it will be interesting to see where Otani eventually settles in on the baseball diamond. Would an American League club be adventurous enough to allow one of its potential aces the chance to DH when not up on the hill?

The largest looming decision is when, not if, Otani decides he is ready to take his talents stateside. Back in 2012, Otani declared he would come to America directly out of high school. Obviously, that didn’t happen as Nippon took him with their first pick in the draft that year.

According to Jim Allen of Kyodo news, Otani may be ready for the big move if an MLB team will allow him to both hit and pitch.

But according to an AL scout, that scenario isn’t likely, as Nick Cardafo of the Boston Globe was told, “He’s going to have to make a choice. Either way he’s going to be an All-Star-caliber player as a hitter or pitcher.”

Putting my Steve Nebraska dream aside for just a moment, it’s fair to wonder if the Yankees would indeed be interested in adding another Japanese import, ya know because Masahiro Tanaka hasn’t exactly lived up to that enormous seven-year, $155 million contract. BTW, that doesn’t count his $20 million posting fee.

After only two and a half years in pinstripes, the jury is still out on Tanaka’s effectiveness. But as of right now, he doesn’t consistently any pitch better than that of a NO. 3 option.

So unless Tanaka exercises the opt-out clause in his contract after next season, leaving $67 million guaranteed on the table (which is doubtful with that partially torn labrum), the Yankees may decide to steer clear of anther high-risk, high-reward type foreign starter.

According to Fangraphs, Otani currently ranks as the sixth best young pitcher in the world, via analytics course. So maybe he isn’t such a risk then. I mean, how many recently turned 22-year-old starters of his caliber come along via free agency? Not many.

Let’s hope that The Fighters, which control Otani’s rights through 2019, decide to post him either this offseason or next; which is exactly the time that the Yankees will have cash to spend, and a desire to add a young–exciting pitcher…and DH!

Hey, if Steve Nebraska could open Game 1 of the World Series for the Yankees against the St. Louis Cardinals, while also being the designated hitter, why can’t Shohei Otani?