News On Japan

Shohei Ohtani Makes History: The MLB star joins the All-Time List thanks to His Incredible Power and Speed Combo

Sep 21 (newsonjapan.com) - Shohei Ohtani has achieved yet another impressive feat during his remarkable season.

By stealing his 20th base of the year in the game against the Oakland Athletics, the sensational Japanese player has now accomplished a 40-20 season for the second time in his career with the Angels.

With an outstanding tally of 44 home runs and ten victories as a pitcher, Shohei Ohtani is undeniably on track to secure his second AL MVP title. Despite being unable to pitch for the remainder of 2023 due to a UCL tear, the 29-year-old's versatility remains intact as he excels in reaching bases.

Ohtani, a unique talent in baseball, captivated fans for months with his unprecedented ability to hit and pitch at the sport's highest level within the same year.

Ohtani was both feared and dynamic as a batter, boasting a remarkable .304 batting average, 44 home runs, and 95 RBI. Additionally, he stole 20 bases and achieved an impressive 1.066 OPS.

Ohtani's prowess as a pitcher was equally impressive, ranking among the top players in the game. He achieved a 10-5 record, with a solid 3.14 ERA and an astounding 167 strikeouts in just 132.0 innings pitched. Ohtani's season will undoubtedly be remembered as a historic achievement on multiple fronts.

Ohtani Stats & Info, per ESPN

Despite missing almost the entire last month of the season, Shohei Ohtani achieved a 10.0 WAR this year.

This makes him the player with the fewest games played in a 10-WAR season in the history of the AL/NL, excluding full-time pitchers. Ohtani's total number of games played in the season was 135.

Rewriting how baseball players are viewed

Major League Baseball and sports wagering go hand-in-hand. From a player prop betting perspective, Ohtani has been a goldmine, especially when adding in a Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code. Awe-inspiring statistics and a hunger for greatness have been reflected in his performances this season and since he joined the MLB in 2018.

But aside from the statistics and the baseball wager banter, Ohtani is single handedly rewriting how baseball players are viewed.

On August 3rd, Shohei Ohtani exhibited an impressive performance as the designated hitter (DH). He delivered two hits and received two walks, showcasing his remarkable skills. Not only did he steal a base, but he also hit a home run, marking his 40th homer of the season. Additionally, Ohtani demonstrated his pitching prowess by delivering four scoreless innings and striking out four batters.

This remarkable accomplishment sets Ohtani apart, as he is the first player in the live-ball era to achieve all of these feats in a single game. It is a phenomenal achievement that surpasses the imagination of players, fans, and observers of the game. Remarkably, Ohtani has consistently made such extraordinary performances seem ordinary throughout his career.

Despite the injury, he remains undeterred in his pursuit of pitching. His commitment to being a two-way player is admirable; we should all hope for his continued good health. With his exceptional skill and determination, he has the potential to revolutionize the game of baseball. We had a glimpse of this in the 1910s when Babe Ruth showcased his abilities as both a hitter and a pitcher. However, Ruth eventually focused solely on hitting, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Not since Babe Ruth

In the era of Babe Ruth, Major League Baseball last saw a player with exceptional ability in both pitching and hitting. Before becoming the home run leader, Babe Ruth was an outstanding pitcher. That said, even Ruth did not achieve what Ohtani accomplished this season. Although Ruth had seasons where he excelled either as a pitcher/hitter, performing both at an elite level in the same season was something even he did not manage.

The fact that Ohtani became the first player since Babe Ruth to win ten games as a pitcher and hit 30-plus HRs in the same season is a true testament to his incomparable skill level and dedication. In the history of MLB, few records are held in as high esteem as those of Babe Ruth. But Ohtani, to not only equal but exceed, such a record speaks volumes about his position in the annals of Major League history.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A camera crane collapsed at a music festival venue in Osaka, injuring at least four people.

Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has reported the occurrence of a major solar flare on October 3rd.

Tokyo University's iconic Red Gate, which has long been a symbol for prospective students to pass through, has remained closed for the past three years, leaving many students unable to experience walking through it.

Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed relevant ministers to draft economic measures focused on addressing rising prices, strengthening growth, and ensuring safety and security.

A man who was placed on the public wanted list Thursday is suspected of playing a key role in a series of robberies in Tokyo and Saitama.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Sports NEWS

Reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia has won the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi to complete a weekend double and cut his gap to rival Jorge Martin at the top of the world championship down to 10 points. (Al Jazeera)

Even though basketball isn't the first sport that comes to mind when you think of New Zealand, it has been making its mark since the beginning of the 1900s.

In Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are facing off in the division series. This is the first postseason for Dodgers star Ohtani Shohei. (NHK)

Major League Baseball star Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Dodgers has won the National League's home run and RBI titles. (NHK)

A research team in Japan says it has developed an ultra-thin wearable sensor, which they hope will have applications for sports and other fields.

Sumo wrestler Onosato clinched his second grand tournament title on Saturday, with his 13th win in the current championship. The 24-year-old wrestler has now notched 34 victories in his three most recent tournaments. This puts him above the generally recognized requirement for promotion to Ozeki, the second-highest rank. (NHK)

Shohei Ohtani returned to Dodger Stadium in spectacular fashion, hitting a home run and stealing a base in his first game back, raising his season total to 52 home runs and 52 stolen bases.

More than 2,000 amazing records from around the world have been registered in the latest Guinness World Records 2025, including a feat by a young skateboarding prodigy from Japan.