“Thankfully, we have a player on our team named Shohei Ohtani.”
U.S. Major League superstar Shohei Ohtani (30) has become the pride of the Los Angeles Dodgers in just one year. Ohtani started as the first designated hitter in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres of the “2024 Major League” at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 6th (Korea time) and played two hits in five at-bats (one home run), two strikeouts, three RBIs and two runs. The Dodgers succeeded in gaining the upper hand by coming from behind to win 7-5.
Ohtani, who made his big league debut by signing with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, drew attention as a double whammy player. Ohtani was the American League MVP twice in 2021 and last year, proving that he can play a double whammy, which was considered like a cartoon for the Angels for six years until last year. As a player, he has been on a roll, writing the first or most history in the history of countless major leagues, and he had only one thirst for “winning.” Ohtani has never made the fall stage in his six years with the Angels.
When Ohtani appeared in the FA market after the last season, he said, “I want to go to a team that can win the title.” The Dodgers has been playing fall baseball almost every year, and the Dodgers could afford Ohtani’s skyrocketing ransom. As a result, Ohtani successfully signed a 10-year contract worth 700 million U.S. dollars with the Dodgers. It was the highest amount in the history of professional sports in the U.S.
Concerns over malicious contracts have been erased from the first year. Otani has become a representative player of the Dodgers in just one season. With 54 homers and 59 steals, Otani joined the 50-50 club for the first time in the big league, and had a batting average of 0.310, OPS of 1.036, 130 RBIs and 134 runs. In the National League, he ranked second in the batting average, No. 1 in the OPS, No. 1 in RBIs and No. 1 in runs scored in both leagues. He is expected to become the third MVP of his career.
Ohtani’s firepower was maintained through the post season. Ohtani worked hard at his second batter’s box in the bottom of the second inning when his team was losing 0-3. With Will Smith’s walk and Gavin Lux’s hit, Ohtani hit a 96.9 mph fastball on the fourth pitch of the San Diego Padres’ starting pitcher Dylan Sise to hit the ball over the right fence. It was Ohtani’s debut home run in the post season with a 3-3 balance. Ohtani threw the bat in an unusual move, roaring loudly. As such, it was a powerful shot that could completely upset the mood of the team. It was a cannon with a flying distance of 372 feet (113 meters) and a flying speed of 111.8 mph (180 kilometers).
He turned the tables in the bottom of the fourth inning when his team was losing 3-5. When Tommy Edman and Miguel Rojas had consecutive hits with one out, the San Diego Padres replaced the mound with left-hander Adrian Morehorn. San Diego manager Mike Shildt once said left-handed Ohtani showed weakness in left-handed pitchers. Ohtani threw a hit to the center field as if showing Sildt, leading to the bases loaded with no outs. A hit that was eaten when the bat was broken could become a hit. In the next Mookie Betts batter’s box, morehorn threw a wild pitch, and the third baseman Edman scored a run to lead the team to 4-5.
Theoska Hernandez’s finishing hit gave the Dodgers the chance to win the game with two outs and a bases loaded. With San Diego replacing the pitcher with right-hander Jeremiah Estrada, Hernandez hit a timely two-run single to right field that bounced off the center field glove and turned it over 6-5.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the starting pitcher, was the most grateful player for Ohtani’s homer. Yamamoto struggled in three innings with 60 pitches and five hits (one homer), two walks, one strikeout and five runs, almost driving the Dodgers to a loss. Yamamoto allowed San Diego Padres’ leading hitter Manny Machado to throw a two-run shot in the first inning, but was able to survive thanks to Ohtani’s tying three-run homer, only to lose the lead to San Diego Padres when he was hit by Xander Bogaerts with a two-run double in the top of the third inning.
Yamamoto told a press conference after the game
When asked at a press conference after the game that Ohtani’s home run had created a tight flow, Yamamoto replied, “I’m grateful for all the support that came after I lost. As a result, I was happy to win again as a team.”
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy reflected on the atmosphere at their home stadium, where Machado battled after a home run in the first inning, saying, “You can almost feel the atmosphere when you’re in the stadium. Then thankfully, we had a player named Shohei Ohtani on our team. Ohtani threw a perfect lightning bolt on the field.”
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman emphasized Ohtani’s presence, saying, “It’s always helpful to have a player like Ohtani on the team.” 토토사이트
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also said, “I have never seen a player as consistent as Ohtani at such a critical moment. It is truly impressive. I don’t know what the secret is, but I hope many other players will be able to play like Ohtani. Ohtani is a really special player in that regard,” Roberts said.
Ohtani was calm. “I could feel the tension in the stadium before the game, and I enjoyed the atmosphere. I was really happy to tie the game (when the homer came out), and to hit a homer off a really good pitcher,” he said.
Regarding his long-cherished career in the postseason, Ohtani said, “I had some difficulties during the regular season, but I’m experiencing what it feels like to play a postseason game. The postseason has another difficulty. I’m just happy to be part of a team in the fall baseball game.”
Ohtani will face Yu Darvish, his idol, in the second game against the San Diego Padres, which will take place at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. The San Diego Padres foretold veteran Darvish as the starting pitcher for the second game. Darvish started 11 postseason games and posted 4-6 losses, 58 innings and 4.19 ERA.
