Two-way player phenomenon spearheaded by Ohtani faces potential hindrance due to rules alteration
In the world of Major League Baseball (MLB), Shohei Ohtani continues to stand alone as the only two-way player, combining elite pitching and hitting skills that few others have managed to replicate.
According to Shawn Pender, the Reds' vice president of player development, developing hitters is more challenging than developing pitchers. This difficulty, coupled with the fear of injury and the current era of specialization, has made it hard for players to excel in both roles [1].
Michael Lorenzen, a former two-way player who has shared the field with Ohtani, echoes this sentiment. He suggests that the demands and complexities of maintaining elite performance in both roles simultaneously might be the reason behind the rarity of two-way players in MLB [1]. The physical toll, scheduling challenges, and specialized training required to excel in both pitching and hitting are significant factors [1].
Recent draft picks have included two-way players, but they typically do not carry the full-time major league two-way role like Ohtani does. Ohtani's exceptional pitching ability, demonstrated by his career-high average fastball velocity of 98.2 mph, and his offensive production, leading the majors in extra-base hits as a batter, set him apart [5][2].
MLB’s official two-way player designation also poses challenges. To earn this distinction, a player must pitch in 20 MLB innings and play in at least 20 MLB games as a position player or designated hitter, with at least three plate appearances in each game [4]. These rules make it difficult for teams to manage players in two roles, especially considering the logistical hurdles of using a player both as a pitcher and hitter in the same game, particularly during playoffs [3].
Despite these challenges, there are players who still express interest in becoming two-way players. However, Ohtani remains the sole two-way star in today's game [1][3].
Ohtani made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018 and returned as a two-way player in June 2023. Michael Lorenzen, another former two-way player, hasn't done both since 2021. Despite showing promise as a two-way player, Spencer Schwellenbach chose to focus on pitching after getting Tommy John surgery, acknowledging the physical demands on a two-way player [6].
In conclusion, while there is interest and attempts at developing two-way players, the combination of physical demands, strategic complexity, and rules enforcement means Shohei Ohtani remains uniquely successful as a two-way player in MLB today [1][3].
References: 1. ESPN 2. MLB.com 3. MLB.com 4. MLB.com 5. Fangraphs 6. MLB.com
