Dodgers News: Shohei Ohtani Honors Batboy Who Saved His Life; Hails Him “My Hero”

Another potential Shohei Ohtani injury could have laid the Dodgers back into struggling days. The two-way phenom avoided yet another injury scare in Wednesday’s match against the Chicago White Sox. It was a blistering ball from Kike Hernandez’s bat that made its way towards Ohtani. Thankfully, Javier Herrera’s heroics saved the day for ‘Shotime’ which could have gone worse for the Atlantics. In the past, the Dodgers’ ace player has dealt with several injuries, with the elbow injury being the latest. 

However, despite all the tussle, the Dodgers won the match comfortably 4-0 against the White Sox. Appreciating Herrera, Ohtani posted a story on social media. Still, this was the tip of the iceberg, as what happened in the match was exceptional from the Batboy. Yes, the incident was brutal, but Javier Herrera’s meeting with the reporters and sharing his thoughts was even more interesting. 

A Glance at Ohtani’s incident and Batboy Herrera’s words

It all started in the third inning at the Guaranteed Rate Field when Hernandez took his stance. Ohtani was standing on the LAD dugout stairs, and suddenly, a hard-hit ball came towards him. While Ohtani frightenedly looked for cover, Javier was before him. He casually caught the ball, saving the ace player’s life from another injury. After the incident on Friday night, Shohei Ohtani posted an Instagram story, “My Hero,” the caption read. More to it, he also posted a photo of Javier speaking with the reporters. 

After the match, about two dozen reporters gathered around Herrera to capture his stance. “I saw the pitch all the way through. It hit the bat, and the ball pretty much found me. I was able to grab it,” Herrera said. “I was just doing my job.” In the past, Herrera has always been the team’s savior. He received much applause in the past for his quick reflexes. Also, Herrera’s heroics didn’t go in vain. It was Dave Roberts who praised the 38-year-old Batboy, saying, “Yeah, he needs a contract extension, a raise,” to the Los Angeles Times. 

Indeed, losing Ohtani for a long period of time would have been a huge blow for the Dodgers. In 2024, the team is already dealing with the injuries of Mookie Betts and starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. While Mookie Betts is recovering from a fractured left hand, Yamamoto is out for 15 days due to his right rotator cuff strain. 

Undoubtedly, it looks like the save from Javier was a million-dollar one. Ohtani is paying back every single penny to the Dodgers. The two-way star player signed a massive $700 million for 10 years. Despite being unable to pitch, he’s still showing his talent through his immaculate offensive batting.

Ohtani is the leader of offensive numbers for the Dodgers in 2024

In Wednesday’s game, the fans caught a glimpse of Shohei’s offensive talent against the Chicago White Sox. He continued his hitting streak for the Dodgers as he smashed a single home run, made two runs, and walked two. Ultimately, the Dodgers clean swept the Chicago club in a three-game series away from home. 

Midway through the 2024 season, Ohtani has just missed three games out of 82. Capturing his offensive numbers, they are certainly off the charts. Currently, he is the leader in offensive numbers at a batting average of .322, scoring 25 home runs, 61 RIs, and 100 hits. Also, extending his success streak, he is ranking in the top three regarding the offensive stat leaderboard. What’s more? Ohtani has an impressive OPS of 1.045 that is constantly improving each game.

As the situation goes, Shohei Ohtani still isn’t 100 percent fit and will not take the mound till 2025. He’s recovering from an elbow injury he underwent surgery in 2023. Eventually, for the Dodger’s success, Ohtani being on the field in any capacity is a necessity. Eyeing at the shiny NL pennant and possibly winning the World Series 2024, Shohei Ohtani’s form is the ultimate key to Dodger’s success.