The two-way phenom, Shohei Ohtani is no stranger to the spotlight. This season, particularly, the lights shone brighter than ever. Some were positive and some were negative. Well, his new team, his marriage, and the cloud of an off-field controversy surrounding his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. But let’s just say that despite the distractions, Ohtani is focused on the bullseye.
Well, the recent firing of his longtime trusted friend and confidant, Ippei Mizuhara, due to alleged gambling issues, seemed like it could easily derail Ohtani’s focus. However, the “super athlete(s)” as his manager, Dave Roberts calls him, was able to block the noise out. His dedication grew evident as he said, “Regardless of whatever happens off the field my ability to continue to play baseball hasn’t changed.” With that, he has established his dominance and more.
Numbers and Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Ohtani’s flaming performance speaks volumes. What looked like a slow start, turned into an arena for the hitting machine, to go 11 for 22 with a staggering eight extra-base hits. He did this in his last five games. Moreover, Ohtani’s opposite-field homer in Minnesota was his 174th career blast which put him only one behind Hideki Matsui’s record for Japanese imports in the history of MLB.
Shohei Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a HR to lead the @Dodgers to the road win! pic.twitter.com/4QdlppwOfp
— MLB (@MLB) April 9, 2024
This offensive surge can be attributed in part to the Unicorn’s relentless work ethic. On one hand, he has been experimenting with a unique training tool – a cricket-style bat with a flat barrel to enhance his mechanics. On the other, his dedication to the craft is proving to be a great recipe for success. So all in all, the drama off-field does not seem to be affecting him on-field.
This resilient ability to bounce back from adversity was even noticed by Roberts. His words were, “Shohei’s just a different athlete. He really is. And those kinds of special athletes, they recover faster, they recover better, and he’s just in that rare class.”
Shohei Ohtani’s Camaraderie With the Team Remains Unaffected By the Commotion
As of now, the biggest question mark surrounding Ohtani is the ongoing investigations by MLB and federal authorities. Despite the absence of Ippei, he continues to work on his bond with his teammates. As the Dodgers’ manager confirms, “Each day we’re learning more. Each day he’s becoming more and more comfortable. He’s laughing a ton. He’s asking questions.”
With that one can say that his attempts to retain his usual baseball skills despite the chaos outside are visible. In time, he will only solidify the idea that Shohei Ohtani is after all a force to be reckoned with. Whatever the controversy may be, fans only expect to see him continue to put on a show, one clutch hit at a time.
