Shohei Ohtani, the icon of the "complexity of pitching," is a position-driven player who is making a new history in the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB). Even if they engage in a controversy over "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time), they have the power to break through a number of legends. This is why the Los Angeles Dodgers awarded Ohtani, who became a free agent (FA) ahead of this season, a 10-year mega contract worth a total of 700 million dollars (about 973.2 billion won), the largest in the history of professional sports. As evidenced by both his ransom and reputation, Ohtani will remain on fire in 2024.
His start was a bit groggy. His second elbow ligament joint surgery (Tommy John) in September last year scuttled him early on. He had to focus only on hitting as a designated hitter. On top of that, he had a hard time outside of baseball, being embroiled in a gambling and embezzlement scandal involving Mizuhara Itfei, a translator who has been with the Los Angeles Angels. Was it because of this? With no homeruns in more than 30 times at bat since the season's opening, his image as the home run king of the American League (AL) was tarnished last season.
Fortunately, he started the game on time with a batting average of 0.352 in April with seven home runs. In May, he hit double-digit homers for four consecutive years, and cruised again. However, he slowed down again early this month. On-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) fell to the mid-90s level, as his batting average was on the verge of collapse. In general, performance marks that can never be a slump, but given Ohtani's name value, there is a small regret left. Another factor that made Ohtani relatively humble was the feisty performance of his teammates Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge, the big guns of the New York Yankees.
That was unfortunate. He regained stability with his multi-homer embroidered at the game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. In the seven games he played through Sunday, he swept a whopping six home runs and posted 23 home runs. He also brought down Marcel Ojuna (21) of the Atlanta Braves, who previously ranked first in homers in the National League. During the same period, he posted a batting average of 0.481 (13 hits in 27 times at bat), six home runs, 13 RBIs and 10 runs.
Every June has always been a hot topic. Up until the last season, he had a batting average of 0.336, an OPS of 1.194, and 43 home runs and 91 RBIs in June alone. Notably, he had a monster batting average of 0.394 with 15 home runs and 29 RBIs in June last year. This is Ohtani who is enthusiastic about this summer as well. 토토사이트 순위
All that remains is to go for the NL MVP. If you keep up the pace, you have every chance. Ironically, his teammate Betts, who was a strong contender, left because of an injury, also presented Ohtani with a chance. Winning unanimous AL MVP in 2021 and 2023, he aims for his third MVP in his first season of moving the nest.
He will become the second MVP in the history of two major leagues. Frank Robinson, who enjoyed the 1960s, is the only one who holds the record (he won the NL title in 1961 and the AL title in 1966). He is also targeting the first designated hitter award. Since 1973, when the designated hitter system was introduced in MLB, Paul Molitor (1993), Frank Thomas (2000), and David Otis (2005) have ranked second in MVP voting, which was the previous best record for designated hitter. Ohtani's earlier win reflected his achievement as a pitcher. Ohtani is challenging another milestone this year when he is the only designated hitter.