‘Baseball Genius’ Ohtani Shohei (29, LA Angels) is creating another amazing season.
On the 19th (Korean time), 메이저놀이터 Ohtani hit a home run in the 2023 Major League Baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
Ohtani, who entered the third at-bat from second base in the 5th inning, with the team trailing 1-2, had a full count match with opponent starter Zack Greinke and hit the curveball on the 6th pitch. The batted ball drew a two-run arch that crossed the right-middle fence as it was.
Ohtani, who had a taste for two consecutive games following the previous day (18th), reported his 24th home run of the season.
He is leading the home run race this season.
Ohtani, who surpassed Aaron Judge (New York Yankees), who hit 19 home runs, and rose to the top of the American League (AL) home run record, is also leading the major league in home runs, overtaking Pete Alonso (New York Mets), who is recording 22 home runs.
Recently, he has been showing off his overwhelming batting pace. After drawing 15 arches until last month, he hit 9 home runs this month. He’s got enough water at the bat to fire eight cannons in his last 10 games.
As he continues to add home runs, he is expected to easily break the personal record for most home runs in a season.
Ohtani’s most homers in a season is 46, which he hit in 2021. That year Ohtani won the AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) unanimously.
Ohtani, who has crossed the fence 24 times in the team’s 74 games this year, is displaying a pace that can arithmetically hit 52 homers.
He continues to sweep up RBIs as he hits home runs. On that day, Ohtani, who added two RBIs with a two-run four, took first place in the major leagues with 58 RBIs this season. It is one difference from second place Rafael Devers (Boston Red Sox, 57 RBIs).
He also leads the team in OPS, including on-base percentage and slugging percentage, with a 1.016.
Ohtani’s trademark “double batting” continues.
Ohtani is responsible for the most wins in the team, with an average ERA of 3.29 with 6 wins and 2 losses on the mound this year. Ohtani is the only pitcher who played the regular innings for the Angels this year.
Ohtani’s tireless steps are heading towards the second MVP in his life.
Judge, who was considered a strong competitor to Ohtani before the opening, has been off for more than 10 days due to a toe injury. In the meantime, as Ohtani’s drive began in earnest, Ohtani’s MVP solo run is also starting early.