Shohei Ohtani keeps on hitting.
In Wednesday’s game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers, Ohtani smacked a 453-foot home run.
It was a two-run shot off Rangers left-hander Will Smith in the top of the ninth inning, which helped the Angels cut into a late deficit.
The Halos still lost by a final score of 6-3, but Ohtani’s home run stole the show for a minute late in the game.
In fact, it left the bat at 116.1 mph.
According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, it was the hardest-hit opposite-field home run by a left-handed batter in the Statcast era, with the previous mark being set by former Ranger Joey Gallo on September 25, 2017.
Gallo’s home run left the bat at 113 mph.
116.1 MPH!
Shohei Ohtani’s HR is the hardest-hit opposite-field homer by a lefty tracked by Statcast (2015)
BY A LOT
prior mark: 113.0 mph by Joey Gallo, 9/25/17 pic.twitter.com/H6g9jOyC1s
—Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 15, 2023
This ball certainly got out of the ballpark in a hurry.
There was simply never any doubt about it leaving the ballpark.
Ohtani will start on Thursday against the Rangers, but on Wednesday, he got prepared for that start in style.
Even more impressive was Ohtani’s bat flip.
Once again, he knew that he had gotten every stitch of the ball and that it would leave the field of play rather quickly.
That is ultimately what took place, as Ohtani put a big swing on the ball and sent it out of Globe Life Field.
It may not have been enough to save the Halos from a 6-3 loss, but it was still impressive, and it also helped him make a little history.
Ohtani will look to deliver a series win for the Halos on Thursday.
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