Shohei Ohtani is a unique specimen of an extraordinary performer on the baseball diamond. Alongside his versatile talent, his consistency makes him a formidable player. He deservingly won the American League MVP Award in 2021. However, in his own words, Ohtani believes that his 2022 season was better than his MVP-winning season in 2021.
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The Japanese-born Ohtani has a long list of accolades from his baseball career at the NPB. Now having made his MLB debut in 2018, he has already begun building a Hall Of Fame-worthy legacy. This year, he was in contention to win his second successive league MVP Award. Unfortunately, he lost out to another fierce competitor in Aaron Judge.?
Having a phenomenal year with the bat, Judge was already the primary contender for the honors. He registered a home run record by overshadowing all-time greats of the sport. Moreover, he also dominated the batting statistics throughout the season. But Ohtani has got no complaints and enjoyed the recently concluded season.
A satisfactory season for Shohei Ohtani?
Trophies aren’t always the accurate marker of progress, and Shohei Ohtani is seemingly a believer in that fact. In a recent interview with MLB Network, when the hosts asked Ohtani whether 2022 was his better year; Ohtani replied through his interpreter, saying, “Well, I definitely think I had a better season in 2022 over 2021. Especially if you just look at the overall season.”
When talking about his season, as a pitcher, the Angels phenom registered an impressive 15-9 win-loss record in 28 games this year. He also inflicted 219 strikeouts at a 2.33 ERA. While as a batter, he smashed 34 home runs. Ohtani also scored 95 RBIs at a 0.273 average from 586 at-bats.?
Meanwhile, Aaron Judge had a phenomenal season with the bat, smashing a record 62 home runs. He scored 131 RBIs at a 0.311 average from 570 at-bats. Thus, Judge has also become the highest seasonal home run scorer in the American League. Therefore, he deservingly received the decorated honor.
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The MLB careers of the two modern-day baseball icons?
Ohtani began playing professional baseball with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham-Fighters in the NPB League in 2013. Following a string of grand performances, he joined MLB with the Los Angeles Angels in 2013. Ohtani has become a two-time MLB All-Star player since then.
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Judge made his MLB debut with the New York Yankees in 2016. He has become a global representative of baseball at present. Judge is a four-time MLB All-Star player.?
So, do you agree with Shohei Ohtani’s comments? Let us know in the comments section below.