Amidst the buzz of trade rumors swirling around him, Shohei Ohtani remains resolute in his dedication to the Los Angeles Angels. His sole focus is on the ongoing season. With the August 1 trade deadline fast approaching, the Japanese talent refuses to let speculation distract him from his primary goal.

The 29-year-old understands that his true power lies in his performance on the field, and he is determined to give his best to the Angels until he is with the franchise. Ohtani was swarmed by a sea of reporters and camera crews during the All-Star break, but he said the same thing to everyone.

Shohei Ohtani clarifies his future

Looking ahead to his future as a potential free agent, Ohtani, undoubtedly one of the most impactful players in MLB history, remains calmer than ever. According to a USA Today report, while speaking about his future, The Unicorn said, “It’s something I have no control over. I try not to think about it. I just try to focus on this season and not think about all of the trade stuff.” Ohtani’s words demonstrate a player who remains grounded and unfazed by the constant noise surrounding his future and is fully committed to the task at hand.

So far, Ohtani has owned the 2023 MLB season and showcased talent like never before. As a pitcher, he boasts an impressive 3.32 ERA with 132 strikeouts across 100 1/3 innings. At the plate, he has been equally remarkable, smashing 32 home runs, driving in 71 RBIs, and maintaining a stellar 1.050 OPS in 89 games. The Japanese emphasized that he is unaware of all the processes that he will have to participate in if he is indeed traded.

His only focus is complete this season as his personal best and pick up as many wins as possible in the process. With the season that Ohtani is having, there are already rumors of more than $500 million contracts incoming for The Unicorn if he is traded. Although Ohtani rarely criticizes his team openly, the Japanese star is motivated to seek new pastures in order to get a shot at winning the ultimate prize.

Ohtani enjoys winning

For the Los Angeles Angels, success has eluded them in recent years. Their absence from the playoffs since 2014, coupled with their last postseason victory dating back to 2009, underscores the team’s thirst for greatness. Ohtani recently reiterated his desire to win. In a recent interview, the two-way phenom claimed that it sucks to lose and with each passing year, his feelings for winning only get stronger.

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Amidst trade rumors and speculation, Shohei Ohtani remains a beacon of consistency, poised to make his mark on the game, one pitch, one swing at a time.

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