Shohei Ohtani is the man of the hour! The Japanese star not only smashed 50 dingers and 50 stolen bases this season, but he even surpassed that record—he has 54 home runs now, and 59 stolen bases, a .310 batting average, and 130 RBIs. Talk about a smashing season! And if that wasn’t enough, he was also announced as the National League player of the month for September. 

Knowing that the two-way star isn’t even in his full element is crucial. Ohtani came into the season with an elbow injury, meaning he couldn’t pitch. He could just hit, and he made all the noise with his bat. He proved that he was worth the $700 million. But did you know the man behind the blue jersey isn’t all as serious as it’s amped up to be? His teammates were interviewed recently, and they all had a similar answer—Ohtani is almost childlike.

Shohei Ohtani’s personality is revealed by his closest

Shohei Ohtani is one of the most-liked players in baseball. Magic Johnson was at the Jimmy Kimmel Live show and pointed out how Ohtani makes the team better. Shohei’s teammate, Mookie Betts, too, was on the show. Betts praised the Japanese star, noting, “No chance I’m faster than Ohtani. He would beat me in a race. He would beat pretty much everybody.” This goes on to show how much love and admiration Ohtani has gathered in his time wearing the blues.

Shohei Ohtani may not crack jokes or seek the spotlight with flashy antics, but he is definitely one of the more jovial characters of his team. At least that’s what the Dodgers players say! Recently, when the players were asked about Ohtani, they mostly had similar answers. Kiké Hernández said, “He’s almost like a little kid, trapped in a giant body. He doesn’t necessarily always show it. But I was surprised by how much personality he has.” Chris Taylor, too, said that Ohtani can be goofy and playful.

But playful doesn’t mean Ohtani isn’t focused. Clayton Kershaw said, “Everyone says he’s kind of a private guy, but within the clubhouse, he’s been awesome. You can see how much he cares about winning.” Well, Ohtani is heading postseason for the first time since starting his Major League career in 2018, so, given that, his head is on the game, which is exactly what the Los Angeles Dodgers need.

Ohtani’s popularity breaks all bounds

The Japanese star is a fan favorite, and it’s no secret; the videos of fans in line to get a hold of Ohtani’s and his dog Decoy’s bobblehead prove it. In fact, did you know that the incident triggered a traffic jam? Such is Ohtani’s and Decoy’s popularity among the MLB fans; the bobblehead sold for double and triple prices online, and Ohtani fans did make some bank. Now, Shohei Ohtani has another reason to celebrate as he was just announced to have the most popular jersey in the MLB. 

According to MLB, Ohtani still retains his crown as the most popular jersey in the league. But with the Dodgers fanbase and Ohtani’s international fanbase, it’s not hard to imagine why. Magic Johnson even compared Ohtani to Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift in terms of popularity and that says a lot about Ohtani’s fanbase. After Ohtani, in jersey sales are Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, and Francisco Lindor finishing in a strong 5th place. 

Shohei Ohtani has been a force to be reckoned with this season. For most, it’s unthinkable what the star has done so far. He is now also a frontrunner for his third MVP award, so, it’s safe to say his charm and talent continue to captivate his audience all over. What’s your take on Ohtani’s playful side? Share in the comments below.