In sports that require a player to play on offense and defense (such as basketball and ice hockey), a two-way player refers to a player who excels at both. In sports where a player typically specializes on offense or defense (like American football), or on pitching or batting (like baseball), it refers to a player who chooses to do both.

Basketball

Commonly used in basketball, a two-way player excels at both the offensive side of the game and the defensive side of the game.[1][2]

Some of the best two-way players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) have been awarded the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Kevin Garnett, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the only Defensive Player of the Year winners to have also won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) during their careers. Jordan, Olajuwon, and Antetokounmpo won both awards in the same season.[3]

In the Women's National Basketball Association, Yolanda Griffith, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Lauren Jackson, Candace Parker, Tamika Catchings, Sylvia Fowles, and A'ja Wilson have won both the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award and the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. Griffith, Swoopes, Leslie, Jackson, and Wilson won both awards in the same year, with Swoopes doing so twice.[4]

Hockey

In the National Hockey League (NHL), the term two-way forward is used for a forward who handles the defensive aspects of the game as well as the offensive aspects of the game.[5] The best two-way forward is presented with the Frank J. Selke Trophy. The term two-way defenseman is used to describe a defenseman who also makes contributions on offense.[6] Occasionally, a player will be designated as both a defenseman and forward in has career; some recent examples are Nicolas Deslauriers, who was listed as a defenseman in his time in the QMJHL and in his first two professional seasons but as of 2022 is listed as a forward; and Dustin Byfuglien, who began his junior career as a defenseman before being moved up to right wing by the Chicago Blackhawks, then was moved back to defense when he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers.

Only two players have won both the Hart Trophy (the NHL's MVP award) and the Norris Trophy (the defensive player of the year award): Bobby Orr three times and Chris Pronger once, each time in the same season.[7]

Baseball

Background

Two-way player Shohei Ohtani

In Major League Baseball (MLB), there are few true two-way players, as position players generally do not pitch, and most pitchers are poor batters. In the American League especially, the two-way player had mostly ceased to exist, as the designated hitter (DH) rule has allowed a team to have a designated batter bat in place of the pitcher since 1973. Ironically, this very rule was what largely made it possible for two-way player Shohei Ohtani to pitch and bat on separate days. Prior to 2021, pitchers in the National League still had to bat for themselves, but they were usually poor batters. In 2017, the average batting average for all of MLB was .255. The average batting average for pitchers was .124, significantly worse than the league average.[8]

Until Shohei Ohtani in 2021, Babe Ruth (in 1918 and 1919) was the last player to pitch 100 innings and have 200 plate appearances as a batter in the same season.[9] (Bullet Rogan achieved the same feat in the Negro leagues, which were not considered major leagues at the time.) Two-way players are still common in college baseball, with the John Olerud Award being given to the best two-way player of the season. However, by the major league level, a player is usually better at either pitching or batting, and rarely is given the chance to do both.[10]

Effective with the 2020 season, "two-way player" became an official MLB roster classification. A player qualifies once he reaches the following statistical milestones in either the current or the immediately previous season:[11]

  • At least 20 MLB innings pitched.
  • Appearing in at least 20 MLB games as a position player or designated hitter, with at least 3 plate appearances in each of the 20 games.

Once the player qualifies, he retains two-way status for the remainder of the current season plus all of the next season. Two-way players do not count against the limit of 13 pitchers (14 for regular-season games after September 1) on a team's active roster instituted in 2020, and also are not subject to restrictions on pitching by position players that were also introduced in 2020.[11]

For the 2020 season only, statistics from either 2018 or 2019 could be used to qualify a player for two-way status. This allowed the Los Angeles Angels to classify Shohei Ohtani, who did not pitch in 2019 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, as a two-way player in 2020.[11]

Recent players

In 2017, the Tampa Bay Rays selected Brendan McKay, a two-way player, and began developing him as a pitcher and a first baseman;[12] he made his MLB debut as a pitcher and DH during the Rays' 2019 season.[13][14]

Shohei Ohtani, a two-way player as a pitcher and outfielder, moved from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB in 2018 and became one of the few players to hit and pitch professionally. He has been used as a DH on days when he does not pitch.[15][16] Ohtani was named the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year after becoming the first player since Babe Ruth to hit at least 20 home runs and pitch at least 50 innings in the same season.[17] In 2021, Ohtani became the first player to be selected for the MLB All-Star game as both a pitcher and designated hitter, and he finished the year with 46 home runs and a 158 OPS+ as a hitter and a 3.18 ERA on the mound, winning the AL MVP award unanimously.[18][19][20]

Pitcher Michael Lorenzen, a former two-way player at Cal State Fullerton, amassed 133 at-bats, 31 hits and seven home runs in his seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, and he played as an outfielder in 36 games.[21][22] He would stop batting in the Major Leagues after leaving the Reds, pitching for the Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies, being named an All-Star and pitching a no-hitter in 2023.[23]

Brett Eibner as batter and pitcher

Other major-league teams have evaluated prospects as two-way players, including Anthony Gose, Brett Eibner and Trey Ball.[12][24][25]

Notable two-way baseball players

Player League Team(s) Years as
two-way player		 Wins Losses ERA Batting
average		 HRs RBI Notes
Rick Ankiel[26]MLBSt. Louis Cardinals1999–2001, 200413103.90.24076251Ankiel was the first player since Babe Ruth to have won 10 or more games in a season, and to hit 50 career home runs.
Nixey Callahan[27]MLBPhiladelphia Phillies
Chicago Colts/Orphans
Chicago White Sox		1894, 1897–190399733.39.27311394Pitched a no-hitter in 1902
Leon Day[28]Negro leaguesBaltimore Black Sox
Brooklyn/Newark Eagles		1934–194667[lower-alpha 1]294.51.285367MLB Hall of Fame
Martín Dihigo[28]Negro leaguesCuban Stars (East)
Homestead Grays
Hilldale Giants
New York Cubans		1923–1928, 1930–1931, 1935–1936, 194526192.92.30764227MLB Hall of Fame
Hideo FujimotoJBL/NPBTokyo Kyojin
Chunichi Dragons
Yomiuri Giants		1943–1948200871.90.24515151Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
Fumio FujimuraJBLOsaka Tigers1936–1938, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1950–195134112.43.3002241,126Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
Brooks Kieschnick[26]MLBMilwaukee Brewers2003-2004224.59.24816462-time Dick Howser Trophy winner
Masaru KageuraJBLOsaka Tigers1936–19382791.57.27125222Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
Kim Seong-hanKBOHaitai Tigers1982–1983, 1985–198615103.02.286207781
Michael Lorenzen[21]MLBCincinnati Reds2015–201920214.06.235724
Michio NishizawaJBL/NPBNagoya/Sangyo/Chubu Nihon/Nagoya Dragons/Chunichi Dragons
Gold Star/Kinsei Stars		1937–1943, 1946–1947[lower-alpha 2]60652.23.286212940Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
Akira NoguchiJBL/NPBTokyo Senators / Taiyō / Nishitetsu
Hankyu Braves
Chunichi/Nagoya Dragons		1936–1937, 1942–1943, 1948[lower-alpha 3]49402.54.25161572Brother of fellow two-way player Jiro Noguchi
Jiro NoguchiJBL/NPBTokyo Senators / Tsubasa / Taiyō / Nishitetsu
Hankyu Braves		1939–1943, 1946–19522371391.96.2489368Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
Shohei OhtaniNPBHokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters2013–201742152.52.28648166
MLBLos Angeles Angels2018, 2020–202338193.01.274171437Won the 2021,2023 American League Most Valuable Player Award
Ted Radcliffe[28]Negro leaguesDetroit Stars, Chicago American Giants, St. Louis Stars, Homestead Grays, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Columbus Blue Birds, New York Black Yankees, Brooklyn Eagles, Cincinnati Tigers, Memphis Red Sox, Birmingham Black Barons, Homestead Grays1929–1935, 1937–1939, 1941–1944, 19463230 ?.2781997[lower-alpha 4]Known as "Double Duty Radcliffe"
Bullet Rogan[26][28]Negro leaguesKansas City Monarchs1920–1929, 1933, 1935, 1937119503.68.33845199[lower-alpha 5]MLB Hall of Fame
Babe Ruth[9]MLBBoston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Boston Braves		1914–1921, 1930, 193394462.28.3427142,214MLB Hall of Fame
Junzo SekineNPBKintetsu Pearls1950–195765943.43.27959424Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
George Sisler[27]MLBSt. Louis Browns1915–1916562.35.3401021,175MLB Hall of Fame
Willie Smith[26]MLBDetroit Tigers
Los Angeles Angels
Cleveland Indians
Chicago Cubs		1963–1964, 1968[lower-alpha 6]243.10.24846211
Kota YazawaNPBHokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters2023–present
Doc White[26]MLBPhiladelphia Phillies
Chicago White Sox		1902, 1909–19101891562.39.217275

American football

In the National Football League (NFL), there are few two-way players, as most offensive players do not play defense nor do defensive players play offense. A major concern is the possibility of injury when a player is overused. In the early years of the NFL, two-way players were more common as part of the one-platoon system, but in modern times, they are a rarity.[33]

Deion Sanders was a starter on defense who occasionally played offense, except for the 1996 season in which he played a considerable amount of offense as a wide receiver.[34]

Troy Brown, well-regarded for his special-teams skills and as a wide receiver,[35] played significant time at cornerback when starters were injured during the 2004 season. His three interceptions ranked second among Patriots players that season.[36] He also played cornerback in an emergency role during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

Patrick Ricard played both as a fullback and a defensive lineman in 2017.[37]

At the college level, some players play on both sides of the ball.[38] While he was at UCLA (2013–2015), linebacker Myles Jack also played running back, and he won both the Pac-12 Conference Offensive and Defensive Freshman Player of the Year awards.[39] In the mid-1980s, Gordie Lockbaum was a notable two-way player—he twice finished in the top five in Heisman Trophy balloting, and later was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame.[40]

See also

  • All-rounder, a cricketer who is skilled at batting and bowling

Notes

  1. ↑ Recordkeeping was poor during Day's career; league historians claim he won as many as 300 games.[29][30]
  2. ↑ Nishizawa was primarily a pitcher from 1937 to 1943, and primarily a position player from 1946 onward.
  3. ↑ Akira Noguchi was primarily a pitcher in 1936–1937 and primarily a position player from 1942 onward.
  4. ↑ Biographer Kyle P. McNary estimates that Radcliffe had a .303 batting average, 4,000 hits and 400 homers in 36 years in the game.[31]
  5. ↑ Historian Phil Dixon puts Rogan's lifetime totals against all competition, including semipro and Army teams, at more than 350 games won, 2000 strikeouts, 2500 hits, 350 home runs, and 500 stolen bases.[32]
  6. ↑ Smith also played two seasons with the Nankai Hawks of the NPB (in 1972–1973), but primarily as a position player; he only pitched 1/3 of an inning.

References

  1. ↑ Schuhmann, John (August 16, 2017). "Taking stock of best of best two-way players in NBA today". NBA.com. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  2. ↑ Paine, Neil (July 11, 2016). "Farewell To Tim Duncan, The Greatest Two-Way Player In Modern NBA History". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  3. ↑ Krishnamurthy, Aaditya (December 1, 2021). "Michael Jordan Is The Only Player In NBA History To Win Defensive Player Of The Year While Averaging 35+ Points Per Game". Yardbarker. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Most Valuable Player". WNBA.com. September 7, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ Prewitt, Alex (October 2, 2019). "Double Duty: The Value of a Two-Way Forward in Today's NHL".
  6. ↑ Macfarlane, Steve (August 27, 2016). "Ranking the 10 Best 2-Way Defensemen in the NHL for 2016-17 Season". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Pronger Named MVP and Top Defenseman". Los Angeles Times. June 16, 2000. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ "2017 MLB Team Position Performance by BA".
  9. 1 2 Kram, Zach (March 27, 2018). "Lessons From a Legend, 100 Years Later". The Ringer.
  10. ↑ Miller, Doug (December 6, 2017). "Ex-two-way prospects assess Ohtani's future". MLB.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 "Rule changes announced for 2020 season". MLB.com. February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  12. 1 2 Justice, Richard (May 24, 2018). "Shohei Ohtani clearing path for 2-way players". MLB.com. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  13. ↑ Topkin, Marc (June 29, 2019). "What a debut for Rays rookie Brendan McKay in 5-2 win". TampaBay.com.
  14. ↑ "Ex-Blackhawk star Brendan McKay goes 0 for 4 in hitting debut with Rays". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. July 1, 2019.
  15. ↑ DiGiovanna, Mike (February 14, 2018). "Angels' two-way player Ohtani will pitch and be a DH, but he won't be allowed to slide head-first". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  16. ↑ Miller, Sam (April 3, 2018). "Should Shohei Ohtani stay a two-way player? Exactly 100 years ago, the Red Sox faced the same question with Babe Ruth". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  17. ↑ Schoenfield, David (November 13, 2018). "Angels' Shohei Ohtani beats Yankees' duo to win AL Rookie of the Year". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  18. ↑ "46 HRs, 100 RBIs: Shohei caps dream season". Rhett Bollinger. October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  19. ↑ "A 2-time and a 2-way MVP in Bryce, Ohtani". mlb.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Register Players Encyclopedia - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  21. 1 2 Kram, Zach (September 17, 2019). "The Reds Are Refining the Optimal Approach for a Two-Way Player". The Ringer.
  22. ↑ "Michael Lorenzen Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  23. ↑ "New Phillie Michael Lorenzen talks being a two-way player, greatness of Shohei Ohtani". Phillies Nation. Tim Kelly. August 9, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Ball getting new life as two-way prospect". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Texas Rangers: How Rangers landed Anthony Gose, a two-way player who plays outfield and pitcher | SportsDay". Sportsday.dallasnews.com. December 6, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tracking the history of baseball's two-way players". WNCT. June 19, 2022.
  27. 1 2 Jaffe, Jay (April 6, 2018). "Shohei Ohtani and Beyond: a History of Double-Duty Players". Fangraphs.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Castrovince, Anthony (February 5, 2022). "Negro Leagues had their own two-way stars". MLB.com.
  29. ↑ McNeil, William (2000). Baseball's Other All-Stars: The Greatest Players from the Negro Leagues. McFarland Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 0-7864-0784-0.
  30. ↑ James, Michael (1995). "Hall of a shame: Fame finds Leon Day too late for legend to walk through shrine". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  31. ↑ McNary, Kyle P. Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe: 36 Years of Pitching & Catching in Baseball's Negro Leagues (Minneapolis: McNary Publishing, 1994).
  32. ↑ Dixon, Phil S. (2002). The Monarchs 1920–1938. Sioux Falls: Mariah Press. ISBN 1-893250-08-3, p. 212.
  33. ↑ Santorosa, Tony (March 8, 2012). "NFL's Best Two-Way Players of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Deion Sanders Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Troy Brown | The Patriots Hall of Fame". www.patriotshalloffame.com. June 8, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  36. ↑ "2004 New England Patriots Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  37. ↑ Hensley, Jamison (August 23, 2017). "Patrick Ricard looking to become NFL's sixth two-way player of the past decade". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  38. ↑ Greenawalt, Tyler (November 17, 2015). "Two-way players make a resurgence in college football". NCAA.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  39. ↑ Foster, Chris (December 2, 2013). "UCLA's Myles Jack is chosen Pac-12 freshman of the year — twice over". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  40. ↑ "College Football Hall of Fame: Gordie Lockbaum". National Football Foundation. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
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