Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani plans reveal just how unbelievable his talent is

Billy Heyen

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani plans reveal just how unbelievable his talent is image

This might be the first time anyone has ever used the word "normal" to describe Shohei Ohtani.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar is anything but normal.

But with the Dodgers looking to hand the ball to Ohtani as the starting pitcher in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies, L.A.'s president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was asked about plans for Ohtani.

Would there be any limitations on him?

"I just think he's a normal starting pitcher now," Friedman replied. "Kind of eased him along. Just a normal starting pitcher."

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The Dodgers did ease Ohtani along as he returned this season to the mound after Tommy John Surgery kept him off the hill a season ago.

But they planned it out so that at this stage, he could pitch with no limitations, and right now, Ohtani is one of the best pitchers in baseball.

The fact that he's also one of the best hitters in baseball is what makes this so remarkable.

It's just bonkers that a player who bats leadoff and hits more than 50 home runs can also be described as "a normal starting pitcher."

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The Dodgers don't feel like they have to do anything out of the ordinary to give Ohtani the ball for a playoff game. And that's really the whole summation of Ohtani.

When he came to the majors from Japan, there was question of whether he could really do this.

There are no such questions anymore. Ohtani, in a one-of-one kind of way, is normal.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle