Ohtani’s Historic Day Inspires High School Two-Way Players
After Shohei Ohtani’s historic performance in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, where he hit three home runs and struck out 10 as the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their win over the Milwaukee Brewers, high school baseball players are taking notice and aspiring to follow in his two-way footsteps.
Impressed and Inspired
Sophomore pitcher Carlos Acuna of Birmingham is also a hitter.
(Craig Weston)
“It’s awesome,” said Carlos Acuna, a diehard Dodgers fan and two-way player at Birmingham High School. “That’s who I want to be like as a pitcher and hitter.”
The Challenges and The Future of Two-Way Players
While Ohtani’s success inspires many, there are challenges to becoming a two-way player. Coaches must balance training to avoid overloading players and risking injury. “It’s a challenge but a fun one,” said Jared Grindlinger, a two-way player at Huntington Beach High School.
Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers’ first baseman, sees a future where more players try to follow Ohtani’s model. “I don’t know if you’re going to see another person. Most people don’t see what Shohei is doing in between and underneath. He’s two different people and has to do it day in and day out.”