 After Ohtani had not pitched for 11 weeks, Angels manager Mike Scioscia announced that Ohtani would start the game against the Houston Astros on September 2.Even though he threw just 49 pitches over 2⅓ innings and allowed two runs, he became the first major leaguer in nearly a century to hit 15 home runs and pitch 50 innings in a season, previously accomplished by Babe Ruth in 1919.On September 7, Ohtani broke the home run record hit by a Japanese rookie when he blasted his 19th home run for the season.