“It’s a Great Thing.. But..”: Shohei Ohtani Reflects on His Flaws Despite Surpassing MLB Icon Babe Ruth’s Record

Published 05/10/2023, 11:10 AM EDT

Born in Iwate, Japan, it took little time for Japanese scouts to notice and realize the talent Shohei Ohtani possessed. Soon, Shohei Ohtani was dubbed as Japan’s Babe Ruth. In December 2017, two-way sensation Ohtani signed a deal with the Los Angeles Angels, and five months in, Shohei Ohtani made his Major League Baseball debut. Today, Ohtani is the global face of baseball, and among the biggest stars in MLB, and his performance speaks for itself.

Once dubbed as Japan’s Babe Ruth, the two-way sensation, who has already made two All-Star appearances at the tender age of 28, has now surpassed the legendary Yankee and Hall of Famer in strikeouts. But the overachieving Japanese-born star is still not content.

Japan’s Babe Ruth surpasses Babe Ruth in strikeouts

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Both Babe Ruth and Shohei Ohtani were stars, both on the mound and in the box.

Taking on the Astros at home, Ohtani struck early in the game and made history as he struck out Jeremy Pena in the second innings. This strikeout marked Ohtani’s 502nd career strikeout, surpassing Babe Ruth, a Hall of Famer, on the all-time strikeout list for players who are two-way stars.

Furthermore, Ohtani now holds the record for the most career strikeouts in the history of MLB among players who have hit at least 100 home runs.

Shohei Ohtani reacts to passing Babe Ruth in career strikeouts pic.twitter.com/A4tH545GB5
— The Sporting Tribune (@SportingTrib) May 10, 2023

Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, “It’s a great thing to pass him, but I felt like I could’ve struck out more hitters today,” and added, “It’s still early in the season. I just want to stay healthy.”

Amid Historic MLB Season, Shohei Ohtani Inspires Japanese Clinic to Undergo a Stunning Transformation in His Honor

However, the Angels lost the game 1-3 to the Houston Astros, and Ohtani expressed discontent with his own performance. He said, “It’s been the long ball that’s hurt me in that one inning the last three starts. I feel like walking that leadoff hitter kind of leads to the bigger innings. It’s something I want to be careful about going forward.”

Shohei Ohtani in 2023 so far

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2023 has started as expected for Shohei Ohtani, who ran up to Aaron Judge in the 2022 AL MVP chart. He’s hit at a consistent 0.294, with 40 hits, 7 homers, and 22 runs batted in his 136 at-bats. On the mound, Ohtani has managed 66 strikeouts in 46 innings at 2.74.

Moreover, he leads the strikeout charts in the American League.

Do you think Ohtani will compete for AL MVP in 2023 too? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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WATCH THIS STORY – Japanese Two-Way Baseball Star Shohei Ohtani Hits 100th Major League Homer

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Written by:

Mohsin Baldiwala is a seasoned MLB writer at EssentiallySports, currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. Like many New Yorkers, Mohsin's introduction to baseball was through the storied New York Yankees' tales. However, after covering the sport for almost a year and getting closer to the game, Mohsin has shifted his MLB allegiance from the Pinstripes to Cleveland Guardians, influenced by skipper Tito.

Edited by:

Manaal Siddiqui

“It’s a Great Thing.. But..”: Shohei Ohtani Reflects on His Flaws Despite Surpassing MLB Icon Babe Ruth’s Record

Japan’s Babe Ruth surpasses Babe Ruth in strikeouts

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Shohei Ohtani in 2023 so far