Getting into the 2024 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise file for dwelling runs in a single season was 49, and Shohei Ohtani was absolutely conscious of that.
It was truly Ohtani’s aim to interrupt Shawn Inexperienced’s longstanding file, in keeping with an unique interview with the Related Press. His earlier finest was 46.
“I type of needed to recover from that bar,” he mentioned. “I used to be pleasantly shocked I used to be in a position to cross that file.”
In his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani delivered past anybody’s wildest desires. He offered an electrifying efficiency on the plate, turning each at-bat right into a spectacle. The 6-foot-4 designated hitter posted a career-best .310 batting common whereas smashing his earlier information in dwelling runs and stolen bases.
En path to claiming his third Most Worthwhile Participant award, his first within the Nationwide League, Ohtani made historical past by establishing MLB’s 50/50 membership, hitting 54 dwelling runs and stealing 59 bases. He additionally led his new workforce to an eighth World Collection title. It was his first postseason berth after lacking out in every of the primary six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
His particular person efficiency was past spectacular and his former supervisor Brad Ausmus wouldn’t be shocked if his subsequent season surpasses what he did in 2024.
“It wouldn’t shock me if he went 60/60 and 20 wins a 12 months from now,” Ausmus mentioned not too long ago. “This man is the best athlete to ever play the game of baseball and there’s not an in depth second.”
Los Angeles as soon as once more topped the league in attendance as followers packed the stands to look at the Japanese famous person, with record-breaking viewership from his dwelling nation as effectively. Unsurprisingly, Ohtani’s jersey turned the best-selling participant merchandise in MLB for 2024.
“I at all times thought Shohei made loads of sense for us,” mentioned Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten, moments after the Dodgers clinched that World Collection win. “We hoped he felt the identical approach. There was that one terrible Friday with the little airplane in Toronto [sparking ultimately unfounded rumors of a free-agent signing with the Blue Jays]. We didn’t know any greater than any of you probably did. However I believe we had been the perfect workforce for him, and I believe he did additionally. … I believe he made a very sensible choice.”
Extra information: Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Ties Michael Jordan By Successful One other Main Sports activities Award
Picture Credit score: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Pictures
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