First let's look at the stats: Ohtani went 10-4 last year for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in 20 starts with a 1.86 ERA. He averaged more strikeouts per nine innings (11.2) than Clayton Kershaw. He has a high 90s fastball and three other offspeed pitches. As a designated hitter, he hit 22 home runs in 382 plate appearances with a 1.004 OPS, a better home run rate than either Bryce Harper and Mike Trout.
So this got me to thinking ahead to next year and the first Message Board posts that come after Ohtani hits a home run: "Why can't I get his hitting stats, too?!!!" Right? That's coming.
So here's what is likely to happen next year, and of course we'll finalize this once we know what team signs him and what role he will play. He likely will be paid as a pitcher and drafted as a pitcher. If he plays in the outfield 10 games during the season he can be used as an OF if you'd like, but then you wouldn't get his pitching stats. You'd have to choose what position to put him at. If he DHs fulltime when he's not pitching, we'd likely give him UT eligibility along with P eligibility. Again, NFBC owners would choose at the start of each week where they would play him, as a pitcher or as a hitter.
Just like with Madison Bumgarner, you don't get hitting and pitching stats in one week. You just get the pitching stats with him. If Ohtani just pitches and pinch-hits at times, he would be P only. But if he DHs regularly and pitches, or more drastically plays the outfield 10 times or more, then we'll have to give owners options on where to play him. But again, he can't get both stats during the week; he's either a P or a hitter for you.
Right now I suspect when he signs he will have P only eligibility, but let's see who signs him and what his role will be.
I'm just thinking ahead so I'm ready for the Message Board posts on this subject.
Hope that helps.
