(Anaheim) Before Shohei Ohtani found himself in the Hollywood spotlight and signed the most lucrative contract in the history of professional sports, the Japanese star player delivered another masterful season from Tokyo to Anaheim.
So what will this one-of-a-kind player accomplish now? The Los Angeles Dodgers paid US$700 million to find out.
However, what Ohtani accomplished in 2023 – both with the Los Angeles Angels and the Japanese team at the World Baseball Classic – explains why he was named player of the year for the second time in three years, according to the Associated Press.
PHOTO CHARLES REX ARBOGAST, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shohei Ohtani while playing for the Angels.
“Shohei is obviously the most talented player to ever play the game,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said after signing Ohtani to a 10-year contract last week.
Ohtani beat Inter Miami FC star Lionel Messi and tennis player Novak Djokovic in the voting for player of the year, following a process overseen by the AP with of a committee of sports journalists.
Ohtani received 20 of the 87 votes, while Messi and Djokovic collected 16 each. Nikola Jokic, the MVP of the recent NBA Finals series, earned 12 votes.
After winning this title for the first time in 2021, Ohtani joined an exclusive group of athletes who have earned this honor – which was first awarded in 1931 – twice.
This group includes Don Budge, Byron Nelson, Carl Lewis, Joe Montana, Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods – a four-time winner – and Lance Armstrong. LeBron James, who also earned this honor on four occasions, also chose Los Angeles as his destination as a free agent, while Sandy Koufax, who won the title twice, is undoubtedly one of the greatest players to have put on the blue and white uniform of the Dodgers.
Ohtani has shattered all major league conventions in six seasons in North America, surpassing most of the marks set by the legendary Babe Ruth even though he played in an infinitely more difficult era. Certainly, all limits are regularly pushed in the world of sport, but Ohtani has completely shattered those that have persisted for more than a century thanks to his unique talent, his confidence and an impeccable work ethic.
Ohtani won the American League MVP award unanimously in 2021, and he repeated the feat in 2023 after finishing second in this vote in 2022 behind the Yankees power hitter from New York Aaron Judge, who was also the athlete of the year according to the AP last year.
This year, Ohtani got off to a flying start by leading Japan to the World Baseball Classic – sealing the final by striking out Angels teammate Mike Trout. He then followed up with a spectacular third season both on the mound and at the plate in Anaheim, despite injuring his elbow in August.
Ohtani dominated the American with 44 home runs, 78 more than one base hits, 325 bases reached and a presence plus power coefficient of 1.066 as the hitter of choice for the “Halos”. He also led American hitters with a .184 batting average, ranked second in the league with an average of 11.39 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, and ranked third with a 3.14 ERA at the time of his injury.
“He’s unique, and there’s nothing that’s impossible for him,” said former Angels manager Phil Nevin towards the end of the last campaign. Everything is possible with Sho. I don’t think that could apply to anyone in the entire history of baseball. »