LOS ANGELES Dave Roberts was not sure what to anticipate this spring when asked what could be possible with his new two-way superstar hitting solely.
The ability of Shohei Ohtani to play one off the other was a major factor in his two-way domination. He was able to switch off one side of himself when he was in the batter’s box and the other when he was on the mound by focusing only on the other. This allowed each to flourish.
That created a different equation when elbow surgery guaranteed Ohtani would only hit during his debut season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I don’t know how it’s going to translate as far as performance,” Roberts said. “But I do think that for him to put a lot more time into just the hitting part of it I would assume that it bodes better for him offensively.”
At Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Ohtani launched his career-high 47th home run 405 feet into deep right center, providing yet more compelling evidence that this was perhaps his best offensive season to date. Ohtani launched his third-hardest hit ball of the season with a home run that was timed at 118.1 miles per hour off the bat.
HR NO. 47
— MLB (@MLB) September 12, 2024
A NEW CAREER HIGH FOR SHOHEI OHTANI! pic.twitter.com/aFE1QBmca2
A year ago, the two-time MVP was on track to surpass his career-best total, which was set in 2021, when an oblique strain prematurely halted his final season with the Los Angeles Angels. Now, after agreeing to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract, he added it to the history he mapped out in his rookie season. Ohtani’s season total of 126 games involved more home runs and steals than any other player in major league history, and he still has a chance to become the first player in history to reach 50-50.
Should he do so, he will also intrude upon Dodgers history: Shawn Green set the team record with 49 home runs in 2001.
(Photo: Harry How / Getty Images)
