The chances of hitting a home run off of one of the best pitchers in the league are few and far between, especially when you’re facing a guy like Shohei Ohtani.
However, Kevin Kiermaier had his moment last night as the Tampa Bay Rays took on Ohtani’s Los Angeles Angels in their series finale.
In the top of the second inning with the game scoreless, Kiermaier came to the plate against the two-way superstar and launched a solo shot over the right center field wall to put the Rays on the board.
Angels insider Rhett Bollinger posted a tweet with Kiermaier’s comments on his accomplishment.
Kevin Kiermaier on his home run off Shohei Ohtani: "Definitely one I'll tell my grandkids about one day, hitting it off Ohtani. What a player. Felt really good."
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) May 12, 2022
A Fond Memory
That certainly is one to tell the grandkids.
Not many players can say they’ve taken Ohtani deep.
A ton of pitchers can say that Ohtani has taken them deep, however.
But if you’re Kiermaier in this situation, you have to feel good about accomplishing such a feat.
Ohtani is one of the best hitters and pitchers in all of baseball.
Hitting a home run off of Ohtani is just as hard as striking him out.
This is a guy who can do it all on the baseball field, and it’s quite an accomplishment for Kiermaier to hit a home run off of him and get the better of him.
It’s just something you rarely see.
But you know that Kiermaier will remember this moment for the rest of his life, that he took one of the best pitchers in the game deep.
And his grandkids will be able to brag about it, saying that their grandpa hit a home run off of Ohtani.
Imagine having a grandpa so cool that he took Ohtani deep.
NEXT: Brett Phillips Had A Rough Tuesday Night In Anaheim