Shohei Otani has everyone talking, but will he be able to bring glory to Los Angeles and the Angels

By Ilan Kaps
Updated: February 19, 2018

In sports, sometimes you watch a player and you know they are going to be something special. Many people who watched the FIFA World Youth Soccer Championships in 2005 knew that Argentina’s Lionel Messi was going to make it at the top level. Onlookers at Lebron James’s high school games could tell they were witnessing a player destined for greatness. Sometimes you see a player and you just know.

Occasionally though this judgement is wrong. In soccer they have an award called ‘The Golden Boy’ given to the best young player in the world. Some have gone on to the top of world soccer winning trophies and titles. Others however have struggled, with 2016 winner Renato Sanches really not doing well having made a move to a big team too soon.

In baseball, we will get to see one of these types of sportspeople this season in Japan’s Shohei Ohtani who has long been held up as one of the best young players in the world, with almost every team in the MLB trying to sign him. He has been on more stadium tours than a guide and was wined and dined to within an inch of his life. Eventually he chose the Angels and thus the hype machine revved up even more. Suddenly we knew where the superstar youngster would play, who his teammates would be and when he would be making his MLB debut.

If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Ohtani to thrive, to prove himself and to fulfill his clearly superb potential. If you agree, or perhaps think he is going to fail, then why not take advantage of these free bets, you can have a flutter on how Ohtani is going to do, without having to put any of your money down. A free bet means no risk and plenty of reward. Unfortunately for the Angels, bringing over Ohtani this early could end up being a risk too far. He is still working at his English and will absolutely take some time to adapt.

The Angels will surely give him time and not expect too much, they are used to making big signings. However, the fans and the media might not have the same patience and will be expecting big things. That is not much of a surprise when you consider the Japanese players record, he has excelled both as a hitter and a pitcher and is a real dual threat. He was a three time all-star in Japan as well as picking up awards for being the league’s best pitcher and hitter at the same time, the first player to do so.

The Angels are clearly excited about the fans Ohtani will bring, you can now visit their website in Japanese such is his impact and popularity over there. It remains to be seen if he is going to make it to the top, it is hard to say for sure that he will, what is clear is that he has the talent and it will be wonderful to watch his play in the upcoming season.