Shohei Ohtani Homers in Last Home Game Before Trade Deadline as the Angels Beat the Pirates 7–5

Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani follows through as he hits a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Anaheim, Calif., on July 23, 2023 Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo

NAHEIM, Calif.—Shohei Ohtani’s line drive left his bat at a sizzling 113 mph, but only a 19-degree launch angle. Hugging the ground like an airplane trying to fly below the radar, it streaked all the way over the center-field fence.

“I don’t know if I’ve seen a ball hit like that, except a golf ball, maybe,“ Angels manager Phil Nevin said. ”I thought he lined out to center. I did. Every day he does something to impress you.”