Shohei Ohtani is many things. His versatility in the ballpark makes him the most valuable player in Major League Baseball. Over the past couple of years, there has not been a better player than the LA Angels’ two-way phenom.
During a recent series between the Angels and New York Mets, Buck Showalter heaped a lot of praise on Shohei Ohtani. Given his two-way playing style, every manager would want him to play for their side. And the Mets manager is no different.
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Although the Angels lost the three-game series, the Mets manager was in awe of the Angels’ star. Notably, Ohtani has been a lone warrior for the Anges in the current season. Given their current form, he is their only hope to get them back into the contest.
Buck Showalter believes Shohei Ohtani represents Japan very well
Shohei Ohtani is not the first Japanese to play in Major League Baseball. But he is the first Japanese player to establish himself as a brand in MLB. The reigning AL MVP is also the cover star of MLB The Show 22.
Talking about his game, the Mets manager directed his players to watch Ohtani playing in the ballpark.
“On paper, I don’t know how he can, but it’s great for the game. I told everybody, you better watch it, because you’re not going to see it again. It takes a lot of discipline to be able to do that,” the Mets manager said.
"I told everybody, you better watch it because you're not gonna see it again."
Buck Showalter had a lot to say about the greatness of Shohei Ohtani pic.twitter.com/gZ7ET4fDrn
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 12, 2022
Showalter also praised Ohtani’s mental and emotional strength to handle himself.
“I just do not think anybody is going to have that skill-set in that mental and emotional toughness to do it… You know what I love about him the most is the way he handles himself,” Showalter added. “Whoever his mom and dad are, they should be very proud of him. He represents Japan very well.”
Ohtani in the 2022 season
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If not for a few selected games, Ohtani has been brilliant in the 2022 season. With 13 home runs from the plate, the Angels’ star has been their best offensive player. Not only that, but Ohtani has been a beast from the mound too.
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He already has 71 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings in the current season. However, his ERA is slightly high (3.64). Knowing that he is a two-way player, will Ohtani be able to retain his AL MVP Award?