Here are Ohtani's best MLB games

Shohei Ohtani has given us some moments we may never see in baseball again. There may not be a way to truly quantify -- or rank -- the impressiveness of it all, but here are some of his top games that could very well be considered The Shohei Ohtani Game -- so far, anyway.

His best game yet?June 27, 2023 vs. CWSOhtani turned in what could be considered the best performance by a single player in an MLB game, when he bashed his 27th homer of the season in the first inning en route to a 10-strikeout showing on the mound. When he was removed with two runners on in the seventh inning with a cracked fingernail, he put his batting gloves on and launched his MLB-leading 28th homer in the bottom half of the frame to cushion the Angels' lead. He became just the sixth player since 1900 to hit two homers in a game and strike out at least 10 batters.

Wrangling the RangersJune 15, 2023 vs. TEXThe Angels entered a crucial four-game set against the first-place Rangers, looking to chip away at their division lead. It became a four-day showcase for Ohtani's otherworldly talent, which he capped off with a quality start and his 22nd home run. It was his fourth homer of the series, and he sent it 443 feet to the opposite field after dueling Texas ace Nathan Eovaldi on the hill. Ohtani picked up his sixth win of the season while handing the Halos that crucial series victory.

The strikeout heard around the worldMarch 21, 2023 vs. Team USAYou couldn't have drawn up a better ending to the World Baseball Classic. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth in a one-run game, Ohtani worked Angels teammate Mike Trout to a full count before striking him out on a sweeper to seal Team Japan's championship. It capped an unforgettable Classic performance by Ohtani, who was named the WBC MVP after slashing .435/.606/.739 with four doubles, a home run and 10 walks.

A gem of a statementSept. 29, 2022 vs. OAKIn the midst of a tight race with Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for the American League MVP Award, Ohtani turned in possibly his best start of the year when he came four outs shy of his first career no-hitter. After Ohtani's bid was broken up by a single in the eighth, he induced a groundout to seal his 10-strikeout scoreless gem before picking up his 15th win of the season. He may have not gotten the no-hitter on this night, but it's hard to not wonder if it's only a matter of time.

A two-way, two-day showcaseJune 22, 2022 vs. KCOhtani struck out a career-high 13 batters in an eight-inning, scoreless gem against the Royals. Amazingly, it came just one night after he set another career high with eight RBIs in a game in which he smacked two homers -- including a game-tying three-run shot in the bottom of the ninth. Unsurprisingly, Ohtani became the first player in AL/NL history to have at least eight RBIs in a game and strike out at least 10 batters the next day.

Sho-stopper to the rescueJune 9, 2022 vs. BOSWhen the Angels were weathering a 14-game losing streak, there was perhaps no better person than Ohtani to put an end to it. Trouble appeared to be brewing, though, when the Red Sox grabbed an early lead on a sac fly in the fifth. But worry not, because Ohtani -- who else? -- smacked a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom half of the frame to put his team up for good.

The Babe's old stomping groundsMay 5, 2022 vs. BOSIn his first career start at Fenway Park, where Babe Ruth once played, Ohtani put on a masterful performance. The modern-day two-way marvel fanned 11 Red Sox across seven scoreless innings while picking up two hits, including a bases-loaded single hit so hard it knocked his own number off the scoreboard on the Green Monster. Fittingly, he joined The Babe in rare company, becoming the first starting pitcher to bat in one of the top four spots (third) in a game at Fenway Park since Ruth did so on Sept. 20, 1919.

A no-doubter for No. 40Aug. 18, 2021 vs. DETLooking to put an exclamation point on his 2021 MVP campaign, Ohtani was through seven innings of one-run ball in a tight game against the Tigers. Who better to provide some breathing room than, well, the starting pitcher himself? Ohtani launched a ball 430 feet into the right-field seats for his 40th homer of the season. Oh, and he tossed a clean bottom of the eighth inning -- including his eighth strikeout -- for good measure.

Hey now, you're an All-StarJuly 13, 2021 vs. NLReceiving his first All-Star nod in 2021, it was almost a given that Ohtani would make history at the Midsummer Classic. A day after participating in the Home Run Derby, he led off the top of the first as the DH before taking the mound as the AL starter. Ohtani tossed a perfect inning against Fernando Tatis Jr., Max Muncy and Nolan Arenado, en route to picking up the winning decision to cap off his historic week.

A one-man Sho vs. the O'sJuly 2, 2021 vs. BALAfter Ohtani obliterated two homers -- his 29th and 30th -- in the game, the O's weren't about to let him beat them in the bottom of the ninth in a tie game. So the two-way star drew a walk and got creative: He stole second base (basically twice, after his first attempt was negated), then flashed his elite speed on a single by Jared Walsh to score the walk-off run.

Let the two-way era commenceApril 4, 2021 vs. CWSThis performance could be considered Ohtani's debut as the true two-way player we get to watch today. It also kicked off his 2021 MVP campaign with a bang. Prior to this start, he hadn't hit on days he pitched, so when former Angels manager Joe Maddon penciled in Ohtani, the pitcher, as his No. 2 batter, it drew the eyes of the baseball world. Ohtani wasted no time, as he clubbed a 451-foot homer -- with an earsplitting crack off the bat -- against Dylan Cease in the bottom of the first after tossing a clean top of the frame.

A historic cycle for ShoJune 13, 2019 vs. TBHitting for the cycle might be one of the toughest feats in baseball, as there's a need for skill, power and a little bit of luck. Ohtani conquered it in just his second year in the big leagues at Tropicana Field. After starting the scoring with a three-run homer in the top of the first, Ohtani doubled in the third and tripled in the fifth to set himself up for the potential historic knock. He laced a single to center field in the seventh to complete the cycle, becoming the first Japanese-born player to accomplish the feat.

Nice to meet you, Angel StadiumApril 3, 2018 vs. CLEComing off a rocky Spring Training in his first year in the bigs, Ohtani put some minds at ease when he picked up his first hit in his MLB debut against Oakland. But he confirmed he was exactly as advertised, when he came up with the bases loaded in his first at-bat at Angel Stadium. After a run scored on a wild pitch, Ohtani walloped his first career homer in front of an electric home crowd. He received an epic silent treatment, too.