Shohei Ohtani (29, LA Angels) is also enthusiastic about the multi-four. A Japanese media praised Ohtani by mentioning an offer that Lionel Messi (36, Inter Miami) received from a club in Saudi Arabia.
On the 13th (Korean time),메이저사이트 Ohtani started as the 2nd designated hitter in the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) away game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, USA, with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, 4 RBIs and 1 walk. He played an active role and led the team to a 9-6 come-from-behind victory. Ohtani’s two hits were a decisive tying home run and a come-from-behind game-winning home run.
Ohtani’s 19th home run of the season came with no runners in the top of the 7th inning when the team was trailing 4-5. Ohtani is in his third at-bat. He hit a low sinker against right-hander Grant Anderson and drew a large tying arch that landed at the top of the center stands. The flying distance reached a whopping 140m. Ohtani showed delight by showing off his bat flip (throwing the bat), which was unusual after appreciating his batted ball for a while after hitting.
Shohei Ohtani watches the ball with a bat flip after hitting a solo shot in the 7th inning against the Texas Rangers on the 13th (Korean time). /AFPBBNews=News1
Shohei Ohtani turns the ground after hitting a solo shot in the 7th inning against the Texas Rangers on the 13th (Korean time). /AFPBBNews=News1
Shohei Ohtani (right) celebrates with Mike Trout after hitting a solo shot in the 7th inning against the Texas Rangers on the 13th (Korean time). /AFPBBNews=News1
With Ohtani’s home run, the game could go into overtime. In the end, the 12th overtime. This time, Ohtani was crowned a hero. Ohtani, who was at bat in the situation of a safe second base game. He pushed the opponent left-hander Cole Lagans’ high pitch and exploded a reverse two-run gun that went over the left fence. Ohtani’s 20th home run of the season. With this home run hit, Ohtani surpassed Aaron Judge (New York Yankees, 19 homers) by one and became the sole player in the home run category.
Ohtani’s multi-four makes the Japanese archipelago go wild. Japanese media Chunichi Sports said after the match, “Ohtani is performing beyond the imagination of mankind. One fan was very excited through SNS (social network service). This fan said, ‘If Ohtani is heading to Saudi Arabia If you do, you will be able to touch the big money like Lionel Messi was offered.”
Continuing, the media said, “There was also an article on social media saying, ‘If Ohtani enters Saudi Arabia, he will be able to receive 7 trillion dollars (approximately 8925 trillion won)’. Messi recently signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain. Headed to Inter Miami in the U.S. According to the British BBC, Messi received an offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal for a total of 1 billion euros (approximately 1.37 trillion won) over two years.”
Ohtani will qualify as a free agent (FA) after this season. Chunichi Sports introduced, “If Ohtani enters the free agent market, there are local reports that contract negotiations will begin at a total amount of 500 million dollars (approximately 637.5 billion won) over 10 years.”
As Ohtani hit his 20th home run, he achieved a record of ’20 home runs – 100 strikeouts’ for three consecutive years. As a hitter this season, Ohtani has a batting average of 0.291, 20 homers and 50 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.955 (as of the 13th). He also went 5-2 with a 3.32 earned run average as a pitcher and struck out 102 batters.
ESPN of the United States said, “Ohtani added two homers on the day and achieved the record of ’20 homers – 100 strikeouts’ for the third time in personal history. Except for Ohtani, no other player in the history of the major leagues has ever set such a record.” Ohtani also set the record for ’20 home runs-100 strikeouts’ in 2021 and 2022.
Ohtani also ranks third in the major leagues in strikeouts this season. He is leading the overall in strikeouts with 121 by Spencer Strider (Atlanta Braves) and second with 117 by Kevin Gausman (Toronto Blue Jays). Codify Baseball, an American data analysis company, said, “Ohtani has hit more home runs than any other player in the American League, and has struck out more.”
Ohtani’s recent pace is literally amazing. He has a batting average of 0.396 (21 hits in 53 at-bats) with 8 homers and 17 RBIs in his last 13 games. If the current trend is continued, arithmetic calculations of 47 homers and 119 RBIs will come out.