Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani belted a 468-foot, two-run homer in a spring training game Wednesday in Tempe, Ariz. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI |
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March 4 (UPI) -- Shohei Ohtani wowed fans with a 468-foot home run that cleared the batter's eye in center field during the Los Angeles Angels' spring training victory.
The mammoth mash came in the fifth inning of a 6-2 triumph over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
"I think there's room for growth, but I'm feeling good at this point," Ohtani told reporters.
Ohtani's Angels led 2-1 going into the bottom of the fifth frame. Angels outfielder Jo Adell took a walk to start the half-inning. Ohtani then stepped into the box to face Rangers right-handed pitcher Hans Crouse.
The Angels designated hitter worked a full count against the pitcher in the exchange. Crouse then tossed in a high fastball.
Ohtani sliced his bat through the zone and smashed the offering to dead center field. The ball carried well over the batter's eye and traveled at 107 mph as it left the park for a two-run homer.
Angels manager Joe Maddon said Ohtani has had better balance and a better approach at the plate so far at spring training.
"That's a pitch that's normally been tough for him in the past, an elevated fastball with good velocity, but he got to it relatively easily," Maddon told reporters.
"He's in a better place mentally, a better place physically. He's just doing so many things better."
Adolis Garcia got a run back for the Rangers with an RBI single in the top of the next inning of Wednesday's game. The Angels then added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth frame.
Ohtani went 1 for 2 with two RBIs, a run scored and a walk in the victory. He is 3 for 5 with three runs scored and two RBIs through two spring training appearances.
The Angels face the Arizona Diamondbacks at 3:10 p.m. EST Thursday at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz.