Kody Clemens You never catch your father for a career strikeout. However, in the first case, the child has the upper hand.
The Detroit Tigers’ rookie utility player and son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens caught Shohei Ohtani Monday night in a 10-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. And to sweeten the deal, Ohtani signed a keepsake for Clemens.
Clemens, 26, hit last year’s AL MVP on a 68 mph pitch as Clemens yelled “Strike 3” from the mound. Clemens then threw the ball into the dugout and convinced Ohtani to sign him before the series ended.
After Monday’s game, Ohtani said he was impressed with Clemens’ pitching.
“It was a great pitch,” Ohtani said through a translator.
Ohtani fouled a 54 mph pitch from Clemens, stole the ball on a 57 mph pitch, and then fouled a 56 mph offering.
Detroit manager AJ Hinch said, “So it’s clear that you can’t throw slow enough for Ohtani.” A big grin appeared on Cody’s face, and Shohei put on his hat.
Those were four of the seven slowest pitches Ohtani has faced this season, according to MLB Statcast. His other three came from Tampa Bay outfielder Brett Phillips, who led the Angels in his 12–0 victory on May 12. Miles “fastball” was included.
Clemens was pitching for the third time in the past seven days to save the Detroit bullpen with the game just out of reach. .
He has pitched six times this season, giving up three runs on ten hits in six innings.
Roger Clemens has 4,672 strikeouts in his 24-year career. This is the third list of all time behind Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson. The Rockets’ first match was on May 15, 1984, against Cleveland’s Mike He Hargrove.
“I don’t know how[Codi’s]father was against[Ohtani]but you could always say he punched him,” Hinch said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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