Shohei Ohtani was already a superstar with his hitting and pitching accomplishments over six years with the Los Angeles Angels. Yet every October, Ohtani vanished, with the Angels having a losing record and never making the playoffs. Coming up Interstate 5 to the Los Angeles Dodgers seemingly changed everything — for him and the franchise.
“I’m just like the fans,” All-Star teammate Mookie Betts said, “I’m looking forward to seeing Shohei play in the postseason.” Ohtani's two-way talents are unlikely to be fully displayed, as he is still rehabbing from a second major elbow surgery a year ago. Manager Dave Roberts had floated the possibility of Ohtani helping out on the mound, but recently backed away, saying, “I just don’t see it happening.
” Still, the Dodgers' $700 million man can impact games like no other player. He unveiled a different unprecedented two-way skillset this season, creating baseball’s 50-50 club — the first player with 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season. He finished with 54 homers and 59 steals.
He also fell just short of being the NL's first Triple Crown winner since 1937. He led the league in homers and RBIs (130) and finished second with a .310 batting average to San Diego's Luis Arráez (.
314). Among his astounding numbers: a .646 slugging percentage, 134 runs scored, 411 total bases and an OPS over 1.
000. Ohtani helped the Dodgers finish with the best record in the majors (98-64) for the third time in five years and win t.
