VIDEO: Japanese MLB Stars Yusei Kikuchi and Shohei Ohtani Square off for 1st Time in M's-Angels Game
By Karl Rasmussen
Mariners' starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi and Angels' slugger Shohei Ohtani went to Hanamaki Hiagshi High School in Northern Japan, and even played against one another in the Japan Pacific League. Now, both in the United States, they find themselves playing in the same major league division. In Saturday night's clash between the AL West rivals, the pair were pitted up against one another for the first time since joining MLB.
Yusei Kikuchi & Shohei Ohtani went to the same high school in Japan.
— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 9, 2019
They squared off twice in Japan (3 K & 2 hits).
They just faced each other for the first time in the major leagues: pic.twitter.com/B4cdPGSfPI
The first pitch was up and in, backing Ohtani off the plate with a friendly reminder that the pair are divisional rivals.
In all, the at-bat lasted three pitches, with Ohtani hustling out, rather impressively, a ground ball to the right side of the infield.
Considering the pair are AL West foes, there are plenty of these matchup's sure to come in the future. It'll be interesting to monitor which one comes out on top in the long haul.