Nolan Ryan compiled a 3.19 ERA over 27 MLB seasons, totaled 5,714 strikeouts, earned eight All-Star selections, two ERA titles, and relied on a blistering fastball plus a twelve-to-six curve and circle change. Mark Prior compared elements of Shohei Ohtani's pitching to Ryan, citing Ohtani's ability to fly a fastball past hitters and his very effective sweeper. Ohtani reached 101.7 mph on a fastball in June and averages 98.2 mph on his four-seamer this season, up from 96.8 mph in 2023. Ohtani remains a two-way player, still reestablishing his pitching while leading the National League in several offensive categories. His best pitching season featured a 2.33 ERA across 166 innings, 11.9 strikeouts per nine, and a fourth-place finish in AL Cy Young voting.
Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan had a career 3.19 ERA across an absurd 27 years in MLB, along with eight All-Star nods and a pair of ERA titles. With his untouchable record of 5,714 strikeouts across a long and formidable career, Ryan was known for his blistering fastballs, but also posessed a powerful twelve-to-six curve and a circle change in his arsenal.
"It's got a little bit of Nolan [Ryan] in him," said Prior. "If he wants to just rear back and blow it by you, like, he's going to do it. I think we've seen that, and obviously he has a very good and very nasty sweeper, but if he wants it he's going to get 100 [mph] and he's going to throw it right past you."
The two-way superstar is still working to fully get back into his pitching work while also being an elite hitter, but it is hard to comprehend the pitching that Ohtani provides to a hampered Dodgers pitching roster, while also leading the National League in slugging percentage, OPS, runs scored, and is second in home runs (44).
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