TEMPE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani’s final time on the mound in spring training was a mixed bag, leaving the Los Angeles Angels noncommittal on what’s next for the two-way star from Japan.
Ohtani worked into the sixth inning of an intrasquad game on a back field, throwing only 47 strikes in 85 pitches to mostly minor leaguers. He walked five, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches while allowing two runs on just two hits.
The 23-year-old righty struck out five before a few hundred curious fans.
When does Ohtani pitch again? He politely replied through a translator to ask manager Mike Scioscia.
Scioscia isn’t saying. He said Ohtani would be the designated hitter for some of the three Freeway Series exhibition games against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“This is his highest pitch count of the spring, so we definitely want to see how he comes out of it,” Scioscia said.
Beyond that, Scioscia was coy on Ohtani’s immediate future.
“We’ll have an announcement on our whole team at the latest Tuesday,” Scioscia said.
As a DH, he batted .107 with three singles in 28 at-bats with three walks and nine strikeouts.
On whether he will make the big league team on opening day, Ohtani said: “Honestly, I don’t know how people up there are making decisions like that, what they think of me at this point.”
“I try not to worry about that. I’m having the same approach I’ve had in Japan. It’s not up to me. It’s up to other people,” he said.
Ohtani’s velocity was down from previous outings. He worked mostly at 90-92 mph.
“I think when he needed it, when some guys got on base, you saw it pick up,” Scioscia said. “He’s fine as far as velocity.”
Said Ohtani: “I was focusing more on my splitter than my fastball. I was able to focus on my fastball in previous outings. I was focused more on my breaking ball and that’s probably why my velo was a little bit down. That’s another thing I need to work on.”
The Angels have shielded him from big league hitters. He worked only 2 2/3 innings in Cactus League games and permitted nine hits, three of them home runs, and nine runs. His other starts were against the Tijuana Toros of the Mexican League, a ‘B’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers and the final intrasquad game.
“I think it was spring training adjustments for Shohei,” Scioscia said. “As he got acclimated, he was very comfortable with the guys in the clubhouse. He worked hard and just getting used to our baseballs, our system, coming out here and seeing major league hitters whether it was in games, it was all experience that was very important for him. And I think he did very well.”
Bumgarner has surgery on broken pinkie
SAN FRANCISCO — Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner has undergone surgery to have three pins inserted into the broken pinkie on his pitching hand.
Bumgarner had surgery Saturday, and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
The 28-year-old ace was injured Friday when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield in a spring training game.
The 2014 World Series MVP missed nearly three months last season with a shoulder injury after a dirt bike accident on April 20 during an off day in Colorado.
A’s will charge Giants fans more for parking
OAKLAND, Calif. — Hey, Giants fans. It’s gonna cost ya to motor up to the Coliseum.
The Oakland Athletics announced on Saturday a playful pricing plan for parking at their stadium for games against the Bay Bridge rivals.
A’s season-ticket holders can get prepaid parking for $10 and other Oakland fans will pay $30 — but anyone rooting for the neighboring Giants will be charged $50.
Team president Dave Kaval says any Giants fan who wants to pay the $30 needs only to yell “Go A’s” at the parking gates. The Athletics host the Giants in an exhibition game on Sunday and in a three-game series July 20-22.
The Athletics instituted a plan last year allowing fans to trade in a Giants hat for a free A’s hat.
Whether this car policy would be upheld in court is highly questionable. A judge might just toss it out of the park.
Braves release veteran Kazimir
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves have released Scott Kazmir after the left-hander fell short in his bid to win the No. 5 spot in the team’s rotation.
The 34-year-old Kazmir was acquired with Brandon McCarthy and infielder Charlie Culberson in the Dec. 18 trade that sent outfielder Matt Kemp to the Dodgers.
McCarthy has won a spot in the rotation but Kazmir struggled in spring training. He couldn’t claim a spot left vacant when Luiz Gohara sprained his left ankle.
Kazmir will earn $15,554,483 on the final year of his contract this season.
Anibal Sanchez, signed to a minor league contract late in camp, is a candidate to serve as the fifth starter at least until Gohara is healthy.
Red Sox ace Sale hit by liner
ORT MYERS, Fla. — Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale says he expects to be fine to start on opening day after being hit by a line drive in his final spring training tuneup.
Sale was struck on the left hip Saturday by a liner off the bat of Houston’s J.D. Davis in the first inning.
Sale immediately went to the ground, but walked off the field under his own power. The Red Sox called the injury a bruise.
The left-hander later said he was OK and expected to pitch Thursday when the AL East champions open at Tampa Bay. Chris Archer was set to start for the Rays — on Friday, he was hit by a grounder in the forearm of his pitching arm and had to leave a minor league game.
Sale led the majors with 308 strikeouts last season, going 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA in his first year with Boston.
Sale’s injury came a day after San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner sustained a broken hand on his pitching hand when he was hit by a line drive. He is expected to miss at least a month.
The Red Sox already were looking at starting out with a depleted rotation. Manager Alex Cora announced hours earlier that pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Eduardo Rodriguez will begin the season on the disabled list. Knuckleballer Steven Wright has accepted a 15-game suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.
