New Phillie Michael Lorenzen talks being a two-way player, greatness of Shohei Ohtani

Before the Philadelphia Phillies had even officially announced the acquisition of RHP Michael Lorenzen last Tuesday, clips resurfaced of the seven career home runs that he’s hit, two of which came against his new employer.

Lorenzen spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, where, in addition to serving as a relief pitcher, he also saw occasional time at all three outfield positions. In 133 career at-bats, Lorenzen hit .233 with 24 RBIs and a .710 OPS. This wasn’t just someone who was a good hitter for a pitcher — like his new teammate Zack Wheeler was, for example — but a guy looked like he could have had a professional career as a position player if not for his pitching prowess.

So why hasn’t Lorenzen received any at-bats since joining the Los Angeles Angels prior to the 2022 season?

“I would love to do it,” Lorenzen acknowledged in a conversation last week. “But I would much rather be a starting pitcher than be a bullpen guy and get a few at-bats. So I think when I went to Anaheim last year, they were concerned with maybe having two guys doing it [being two-way players] at once. And then maybe both of you go down, and you lose two starting pitchers, and the injuries didn’t even have anything to do with pitching.

“So I assume that’s why they shut it down for me. And then in Detroit, I think on a one-year deal, it just didn’t make sense for them to get me any at-bats. But I made sure to bring some bats to Philly.”

Phillies manager Rob Thomson squashed the idea of even getting Lorenzen occasional work in the batting cage, citing the potential injury risk for a pitcher who limited the Miami Marlins to two runs over eight innings his debut with his new team last Thursday. To the Phillies, the novelty just isn’t worth it.

When told of Thomson’s emphatic “No,” Lorenzen had a funny response.

“I mean, he’s the boss,” Lorenzen said with a laugh. “I’ll bring him some gifts or something and see if he gives me a couple swings in the cage or something.”

Of course, the idea of someone pitching an hitting at an elite level simultaneously in the modern game seemed like a pipe dream a few years ago. Shohei Ohtani — the 2021 (and likely, 2023) AL MVP — has changed that perception. Ohtani is a unicorn, so there aren’t going to suddenly be a surplus of players who can throw 100 mph and hit 50 home runs. But he’s demonstrated that, at least on a short-term basis, being a two-way player in the majors is doable.

Lorenzen was teammates with Ohtani in Los Angeles, so he got a front-row view of the greatest show in baseball in 2022. He also started against him in Game 1 of a doubleheader between the Angels and Detroit Tigers last month, on an afternoon where Ohtani had one of the greatest single days in MLB history. In Game 1 of the doubleheader, Ohtani allowed just one hit during a complete game shutout where he struck out eight batters. In Game 2, Ohtani homered twice in three at-bats.

So let’s just say that Lorenzen is well aware of Ohtani’s greatness, having seen it up close.

“Oh for sure. I mean, he’s incredible,” Lorenzen said. “What he’s doing this year, it’s insane and he’s got this extra gear in him and he’s been kind of living in that extra gear ever since the World Baseball Classic. When I played with him, I saw the extra gear. He’s been in that extra gear since the World Baseball Classic. It’s been impressive.”

Perhaps when he becomes a free agent this offseason, Lorenzen will look for a team that’s willing to let him be a starting pitcher and occasionally get at-bats, whether it’s as an outfielder or a DH.

For now, he’s willing to start, relieve or do anything asked of him, as he looks to get to the postseason for just the second time in his career.

“I mean, winning is important to me too,” Lorenzen said. “They brought me here to win baseball games and go on a run, so I’m willing to do whatever.”