TEMPE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani took Sunday off, mostly. He arrived at Tempe Diablo Stadium around 9 a.m, quickly and enthusiastically greeted by catcher Martin Maldonado. Ohtani located a foam roller and departed the clubhouse. He did not take batting practice or complete pitchers’ fielding practice, which his fellow starters all did. He did not speak to reporters, in a rare respite from the daily press conferences he has been conducting during spring training. He did receive routine treatment.
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The break was planned as the Angels plot the 23-year-old’s transition into major league life. American spring training is nowhere near as taxing as that of Nippon Professional Baseball, the top Japanese league, but the Angels want to be careful to limit his workload, particularly in camp’s earliest days.
His education continues. For several minutes in the early afternoon, Ohtani and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara traded phrases with two young, Spanish-speaking Angels pitchers Jaime Barria and Eduardo Paredes. The four men used bits of three languages to communicate with each other.
It began when Ohtani relayed a question through Mizuhara: “If someone asks me, ‘¿Comó estás?, how do I say, ‘really good?’
“Muy bien,” Paredes suggested.
“Excelente,” Barria offered.
How about bad?
“Mal,” the two Spanish speakers agreed.
Ohtani giggled. They tried out a couple more words, and then they taught each other, “I’m hungry,” in both Spanish and Japanese. Ohtani giggled some more before he headed to the training room.
Bench moves
In an 18-hour span over the weekend, the Angels reshaped their bench. They traded first baseman C.J. Cron to the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later, signed outfielder Chris Young to a one-year major league contract, and signed first baseman Chris Carter to a one-year minor league contract.
Young, 34, becomes the likely fourth outfielder on Opening Day. He brings a track record of useful bench production, although he disappointed in 2017. He’ll reportedly make a guaranteed $2 million. Carter, 31, is unlikely to make the Opening-Day roster unless another expected member suffers an injury before then.
Because they intend to carry six starting pitchers and seven relievers, the Angels can only afford to keep three bench players. And because of that, their bench players must each be able to handle multiple positions.
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“We are placing a premium on flexibility on our entire roster,” GM Billy Eppler said.
So went Cron, who can only play first base, and entered Young, who can play all three outfield positions. Cron was due to earn slightly more money.
It was clear the Angels would sign another outfielder before the season began. Because of this off-season’s slow-moving market, they had the luxury to wait longer than usual.
Two of the three bench spots are now cemented, for Young and backup catcher Rene Rivera. The last could go to an infielder who has not yet joined the team, or infielder Kaleb Cowart, or outfielder Eric Young Jr. Both Cowart and Young contributed to the 2017 team.
Starting third baseman Zack Cozart, a longtime shortstop, has already been told he will be shortstop Andrelton Simmons’ primary backup. He has not played second base in a decade, but the Angels first pursued him to play that position. So, it stands to reason he could provide cover for starter Ian Kinsler there, too.
The Angels could choose to use Ohtani as a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner on occasion. It’s unorthodox to deploy a pitcher as a pinch-runner, but Ohtani’s very premise is unorthodox. He’s also one of the fastest players on the roster, his gangly legs propelling him forward.
Notes
The Angels held a light day of drills. Position players were required to report by Sunday to undergo physicals, but the first full day of workouts for the entire roster will be Monday.