It’s a feeling that transcends human limits. Shohei Ohtani (30, Los Angeles Dodgers), who is rehabbing from elbow surgery but is trying to become the first pure designated hitter to win the MVP, has surprised everyone by suddenly leading the league in home runs. Even KBO commentator C.J. Nikoski, 51, a former foreign pitcher in the league, was impressed.
Ohtani started in the No. 2 spot in the lineup against the Atlanta Braves on June 6 and went 4-for-4 with his ninth and 10th home runs of the season, including a three-run shot, three RBI, and two runs scored to lead the Dodgers to a 5-1 victory.
Through 35 games this season,
Ohtani is batting .426 (30-for-143) with 10 home runs, 25 RBI, 30 runs scored, 17 walks, 30 strikeouts and seven stolen bases for a .426 on-base percentage, .685 slugging percentage and 1.1111 OPS. He ranks first in both leagues in batting average, hits, on-base percentage, OPS, 바카라사이트 tied for first in home runs, and fourth in slugging percentage.
While Los Angeles local and Dodgers-specific media outlets have been singing the praises of Ohtani, the broadcasters of the opposing Atlanta team, Valisports Southwest, have also been making the case for his MVP status. Nikoski, a left-handed pitcher who spent two years in the KBO in 2009 and 2010 with the SK Wyverns, Doosan Bears, and Nexen Heroes, going 6-14 with a 4.71 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 28 games (101 1/3 innings) over two years, was the lead commentator for Atlanta.
“What’s amazing right now is that he’s doing so much at the plate and still rehabbing his elbow. He threw a ball on the ground the other day. He’s rehabbing his elbow and still playing at the highest level,” Nikoski said, noting that Ohtani underwent elbow surgery last September.
As a result, he hasn’t pitched this year and is focusing on hitting.
He’s a left-handed hitter who uses his left arm to power his bat, which takes some of the pressure off his surgically repaired right arm, but he’s still performing at the top of the league while dealing with discomfort, which makes his performance all the more remarkable.
“Ohtani is an amazing player,” said Nikoski. He’s been hitting at a very high level with both bats so far. As long as he stays healthy, he’s hard to take away,” said Nikoski, referring to Ohtani’s potential for a third MVP.
Ohtani is a two-time American League (AL) MVP, winning in 2021 and 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels. This year, he’s not pitching, but he’s putting up MVP-caliber numbers as a hitter. As a designated hitter who doesn’t play defense, he’s handicapped in terms of overall contributions like WAR, but if he keeps up his current hitting form, it’s not impossible.
Ohtani has already done the impossible many times before.
When he first came to the majors in 2018, no one thought he would be so successful as a hitter. Even Nikoski had a negative view of Ohtani the hitter: “When I first saw him in spring training in 2018, his swing was late and bad. I thought he could be a pitcher, but as a hitter, it would be difficult for him to play in the major leagues,” he recalls.
At the time, there were some who said he should stop hitting and focus on pitching, but Ohtani won the rookie of the year award with 22 home runs in his first year, and since 2021, he has been one of the best hitters in the league. Last year, 사설 토토사이트 he became the first Asian hitter to lead the league in home runs (44), and this year he surpassed Hideki Matsui (175) for the most home runs by a Japanese hitter.
After going homerless in his first eight games of the season, he hit 10 homers in his next 27 games. With six in his last 12 games, he has suddenly moved into a tie for first place in home runs and is on pace to win the home run title for the second straight year. He was also named National League Player of the Week after batting 5-for-11 (21 RBI) with three home runs, seven RBI, a .583 slugging percentage, .952 OPS and 1.536 OPS in five games last week.