Shohei Ohtani, as usual, once again showed what he is capable of. He hit two more home runs when facing the Dodgers, taking his tally to 22 home runs this season. He doesn’t seem to be willing to take a break just yet, does he? Now, we all know Ohtani as a calm and composed person who gets along well with everyone. However, have you ever given a thought to what his personality may look like behind the scenes? If not, now seems like a good time to share some information about it. But not from anyone other than his teammates.
The Los Angeles Dodgers stars, including Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and others, have taken us through more of Shohei Ohtani outside the field. In a candid assessment, Freeman, Betts & Co. discussed their thoughts on hanging out in the clubhouse with Shohei Ohtani. And guess what? It is hilarious.
“Really just how funny he is, man, with us. I mean, he’s laughing, joking,” Mookie Betts said in a video posted by FOX Sports. Shohei Ohtani will probably crack a joke every now and then and many don’t even expect it coming. And it makes sense—a little bit of a joke amid tensions really does work fine, doesn’t it? Well, Dave Roberts thinks so, as he feels Ohtani is a “practical joker.” Despite keeping up with his little pranks, Dave Roberts said, “He has become more free and easy, more jovial. And I think he’s starting to become the person who really, intrinsically, is feeling blessed.”
And it’s true. When Shohei Ohtani came to the Dodgers, it was a new environment and a new experience. He had to overcome linguistic and cultural obstacles because he was from Japan. But it never really affected his play. But after spending about two years with the Dodgers, he feels a strong bond with the players, which is quite evident in his current cheerful demeanor.
Taking us back to Ohtani’s behind-the-scenes nature, Max Muncy heaped praise on him and said how he does something every now and then that he hasn’t seen before. “It’s truly a blessing to be his teammate,” according to Muncy. Echoing a similar statement, Freddie Freeman believed in how Shohei Ohtani has changed the game of baseball.
Freeman’s got a point, though. In a single season, Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball history to record 50 home runs and an equal number of stolen bases. Not to forget that despite not pitching due to a torn UCL, Ohtani still stands tall among the other hitters this season. He has already posted 22 home runs, that too at an average of .298 with a .395 OBP and a 1.062 OPS. Massive!
Freddie Freeman further said, “He never ceases to amaze. It’s incredible. It really is.” And why not? If you look at the stats, ever since Ohtani made his last appearance as a pitcher in August 2023, he is way above any other hitters. In just 222 games, he has already posted 76 home runs and 171 RBIs, and that too with a .306 batting average and a 1.043 OPS. Just like Freeman and Betts, & Co. feel lucky sharing the clubhouse with Ohtani, we all do, right?
However, amid all this praise, Shohei Ohtani proved once again why he is literally the best.
Shohei Ohtani excels in much-anticipated MVP faceoff against the Yankees
The vibe at the Dodgers stadium was an absolute spectacle, just like it was in October last year. Remember the day when the Los Angeles Dodgers lifted the World Series title, defeating the New York Yankees? Something similar happened again as the Yankees lost the first two games against the Dodgers. But what really grabbed attention was the matchup between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, the two best players on both teams.
While Aaron Judge managed to blast a home run that went as far as 446 feet, Shohei Ohtani was quick to respond. He also hit a home run that traveled 417 feet. But what was more surprising was that the two MVPs managed to hit home runs in the same inning, the first inning itself. While we all waited to see what happened afterwards, the result was quite evident.
Despite the Yankees taking a 5-2 lead in the first three innings, the Dodgers bounced back. They managed to score four runs in the sixth inning, followed by two in the seventh, which eventually took them over the winning mark. However, as expected, Shohei Ohtani was the star who easily outpaced Aaron Judge. After hitting a homer in the first inning, Ohtani hit another home run in the sixth inning.
Not only did he post 15 home runs in May, but he also broke the record that was held by the Hall of Famer Gil Hodges. Hodges was the only player to record 21 home runs in 57 games and now it’s Ohtani, who broke the record with his 22nd home run in his 57 games.
Do you think Shohei Ohtani can breach that 50-home-run record this season?
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