{"id":1495435,"date":"2022-03-23T22:50:56","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T02:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1495435"},"modified":"2022-03-23T22:50:57","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T02:50:57","slug":"shohei-ohtani-changed-game-mlb-changed-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/shohei-ohtani-changed-game-mlb-changed-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Shohei Ohtani Changed the Game So Much That MLB Has Now Changed the Rules for Him"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It's been said that Los Angeles Angeles<\/a> phenom Shohei Ohtani changed the game of baseball forever in 2021 with one of the greatest individual seasons you'll ever see. And I'd have to agree with that statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it can now be said that the 27-year-old Japanese superstar has (in your best Rob Lowe voice) lit-erally<\/em> changed the game as Major League Baseball<\/a> and the MLBPA have agreed on a new rule inspired by and tailored to the reigning American League MVP<\/a>. And it'll be in place for at least the next five years, which can't be said for all the newly unveiled rules of the new collective bargaining agreement. But more on those in a moment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shohei Ohtani was the inspiration for a new MLB rule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Shohei
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels watches his home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on October 3, 2021 | Steph Chambers\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I think most MLB fans — and I'd have to think every Angels fan — can agree that the more Ohtani we can get, the better. Already one of the greatest two-way players of all time, the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year was dynamite both on the mound and at the plate in 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 23 starts as a pitcher, he went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts against 44 walks in 130.1 innings. As a hitter, he had a slash line of .257\/.372\/.592 with 46 home runs and exactly 100 runs batted in. Ohtani also led the league with eight triples and added 26 stolen bases. So you can see how he's good for business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On days Ohtani would pitch, however, Angels manager Joe Maddon would have to do some shuffling if Ohtani didn't go the full nine innings, which he didn't do once in 2021 and actually hasn't done since arriving in the States. But I digress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Maddon pulled Ohtani off the mound, he'd have to put him in the field if he wanted to keep his bat in the lineup. But that will no longer be an issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

https:\/\/t.co\/pykb8jO4lF<\/a> Exclusive: MLB and the PA have agreed to rules that include expanded roster, return of the ghost runner and 9-inning games for double-headers plus a rule for the whole CBA that right now will probably just impact Shohei Ohtani.<\/p>— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 22, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>