Shohei Ohtani has defied standard baseball knowledge since making his MLB debut in 2018, excelling to such a shocking extent each on the plate and on the mound that he has arguably surpassed — within the two-way participant class — the one comparable participant within the recreation’s historical past, Babe Ruth.
However Ohtani will probably be dealing with some important modifications in 2024. He has a brand new staff after signing the richest contract in sports activities historical past to hitch the Dodgers, and he gained’t be a two-way participant after present process elbow surgical procedure that can forestall him from pitching subsequent season.
There was some debate regarding Ohtani’s probabilities to win a 3rd profession MVP Award subsequent season since he’ll “solely” be a delegated hitter. In any case, no full-time DH has ever been named MVP, and Ohtani’s two unanimous MVP choices had been the results of an awesome two-way efficiency.
But when there’s one factor we’ve discovered about Ohtani, it’s this: You may’t put something previous him. Not a fastball, not a nasty breaking pitch, and never what many contemplate to be unimaginable. Right here’s a take a look at how the best baseball expertise on the planet can attain new heights in 2024, even with out pitching:
His manufacturing on the plate might be even higher
Ohtani had the most effective offensive marketing campaign of his profession in 2023, main the Majors in slugging share (.654), OPS (1.066) and OPS+ (184) whereas belting 44 residence runs in 135 video games, lacking many of the season’s last month with an elbow damage.
One silver lining to Ohtani being unable to pitch subsequent 12 months is that he will probably be bodily and mentally targeted solely on his manufacturing on the plate. A part of what has made Ohtani’s exploits on the diamond so astounding is that he has been in a position to thrive offensively regardless of the heavy toll pitching takes on the physique.
With out having to exert the kind of power it takes to be among the best pitchers in baseball, Ohtani’s offensive numbers, as nice as they’ve already been, may get even higher.
Not solely that, however Ohtani may have higher safety within the lineup. He’ll be inserted into an already deep Dodgers batting order and he’ll presumably hit second, sandwiched between two different former MVP Award winners, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
With Freeman hitting behind him, Ohtani may see extra pitches within the strike zone than earlier than. Final season, Mike Trout solely performed in 82 video games resulting from damage, and the three-time American League MVP principally hit in entrance of Ohtani within the Angels’ lineup.
The gamers who hit behind Ohtani final season embody Anthony Rendon (.678 OPS), Hunter Renfroe (.737), Brandon Drury (.803), Taylor Ward (.756) and Mickey Moniak (.802).
Freeman’s OPS was .976 final season, and his presence behind Ohtani may pay main dividends in 2024.
He may make designated hitter historical past
If Ohtani had performed in 157 video games final season as a substitute of 135 (157 is the variety of video games he performed in 2022), right here’s what his stat line may need regarded like:
.304/.412/.654, 51 HR, 7.0 WAR (Baseball Reference)
Just one full-time DH has ever hit 50 or extra homers in a season. That was Pink Sox legend David Ortiz, who launched 54 in 2006.
Solely two full-time designated hitters posted a single-season OPS greater than Ohtani’s 1.066 from 2023: Corridor of Famer Edgar Martinez (1.107 in 1995) and Travis Hafner (1.097 in 2006).
And just one full-time DH posted a single-season OPS+ greater than Ohtani’s 184 from final season — Martinez’s OPS+ in 1995 was 185.
The best WAR (Baseball Reference) in any season by a full-time DH? That might be 7.0, additionally from Martinez’s good 1995 marketing campaign.
These DH data are nicely inside attain for Ohtani if he performs a full season, particularly since all his appreciable energies will probably be channeled into hitting reasonably than being break up between the batter’s field and the mound.
He may make Dodgers historical past
Ohtani may make franchise historical past in his first season sporting Dodger blue. Plenty of it.
The only-season residence run file for the Dodgers is 49, set by Shawn Inexperienced in 2001.
The one Dodgers gamers to complete a season with a better OPS than Ohtani’s 1.066 in 2023 are Babe Herman (1.132 in 1930), Gary Sheffield (1.081 in 2000), Duke Snider (1.071 in 1954) and Mike Piazza (1.070 in 1997).
There is just one participant in Dodgers historical past that posted a single-season OPS+ greater than Ohtani’s 184 final season — Piazza had a 185 OPS+ in 1997.
He may make MLB historical past
Dodgers data are nice, however Ohtani has turn into accustomed to setting Main League marks. And as a lot of them as he already owns, he may seize extra in 2024.
Particularly, Ohtani may turn into the primary participant in MLB historical past to win a house run title in every league in back-to-back seasons. His 44 homers led the AL in 2023, and in his first season within the Nationwide League, he has an opportunity to steer the league once more.
If he does win the NL residence run crown in 2024, Ohtani may also have an ideal probability to turn into the primary participant in MLB historical past to win an MVP Award as a full-time DH (with out additionally pitching, as Ohtani did when he gained MVP honors in 2021 and ’23).
The closest any full-time DH has come to being named MVP was a second-place end, which has occurred 3 times — Paul Molitor in 1993, Frank Thomas in 2000, and Ortiz in ’05.
If Ohtani had been to win a 3rd profession MVP Award subsequent season, he’d be:
— The second participant in MLB historical past to win an MVP Award in each leagues, becoming a member of Frank Robinson, who gained the NL honor with the Reds in 1961, and the AL honor with the Orioles in ’66.
— The second participant in MLB historical past to win three MVP Awards in a four-year span. The opposite is Barry Bonds, who gained three from 1990-93 (1990, ’92 and ’93) and 4 straight from 2001-04.
— The sixth participant in MLB historical past to win an MVP Award with a number of groups. The others are Jimmie Foxx, Robinson, Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Bryce Harper.
He may lastly turn into an October legend
The entire unimaginable feats Ohtani has achieved in simply six MLB seasons up to now have come in the course of the common season. He hasn’t tasted what it’s prefer to play within the postseason.
That might change together with his new membership. The Dodgers have reached the playoffs 11 straight years, 10 of them by means of an NL West title. And in that point, they’ve gained three NL pennants and a World Collection championship in 2020.
Subsequent October, we could lastly get to see probably the most proficient baseball participant on this planet on the sector when the lights are the brightest and the stakes are the best.