Moments After Receiving a Top Honor in 2021, Shohei Ohtani Predicted His MLB Future With Eerie Accuracy

In 2021, Shohei Ohtani’s All-Star Game provided a deep insight into some of the most commendable moments of the Los Angeles Angels player. The two-way superstar created history by becoming the first-ever player elected as a pitcher and hitter at the same time. The regular season was one of the best of baseball that fans had seen in recent years, so naturally, Ohtani became the AL MVP favorite. But the Japanese phenom was even more ambitious.

His name buzzed amidst the big leagues after his performance that year. Two-way players are rare in MLB, and Ohtani seemed ready to surpass even baseball’s universal icon, Babe Ruth. And he believed in at least repeating those numbers next year, if not outright surpassing his own record.

Ohtani Lay The Groundwork For Future Achievements in 2021

In 2021, the Japanese sensation hit 46 homers and posted a 3.18 ERA over 23 starts. This was a throwback to Babe Ruth’s performances in the early 1900s. Ohtani’s impressive performance was convincing enough to be unanimously chosen as the MVP of the American League.

Congratulations were in order for Ohtani when he bagged the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award soon after becoming the MVP. It is impossible not to commend the fact that he became the first player since Derek Jeter in 2014 to win this title. But to him, it was only the beginning, as Jeff Fletcher mentions in an interview with NHK, Japan’s public television network.

“I feel pretty confident that I could repeat what I did this year. I just need to go out there and play every day and put up good
numbers, and I think I’ll be able to at least have a similar season as this year.” Ohtani reinforced that idea in an hourlong interview that aired in late October on NHK, Japan’s public television network. “I think this year’s numbers are the minimum,” Fletcher quotes Ohtani on page 206.

Did His Predictions Turn Out To Be Accurate?

Fast forward to 2022, Ohtani had set higher expectations for himself. The already great season of 2021 proved to be just an average season for Ohtani, who gave an even superior performance in 2022.

Looking at his exponentially improving skills, the baseball world knew that he was way past Babe Ruth’s standards. Last year, Ohtani was a close 2nd to acquiring the title of MVP. He was a runner-up then and only lost because of Aaron Judge‘s historic home run feat. But the tables seem to be turning in 2023.  

Ohtani’s game needs no words of description, the player’s performance says it all. Early this month Ohtani bagged his second consecutive AL Player of the Month Award. He reached base four times, including hitting his then-league-leading 40th homer in the majors. He even went on to become the first starting pitcher in nearly 60 years to hit a homer and steal a base in the same game.

Read More: Japanese Shohei Ohtani Proves That He Can Speak English in Rare Break of Character Clapping Back at Top ESPN Analyst

Ohtani is on an unbeatable streak and even for the year 2023, he is the favorite candidate for MVP. Fans think he will win it all and will win it unanimously. Is 2023 going to be Ohtani’s best season yet? What do you think?

Watch The Story : Shohei Ohtani Shatters Mold. Fires Back In English At ESPN Analyst