It’s a tough time to be in Los Angeles. Shohei Ohtani, star slugger and pitcher, has been a gale storm tearing through Major League Baseball this year. Giving a repeat display of his elite 2021 AL MVP performance, the Los Angeles Angels star has multiple Ks to his credit. While he may be a pitching sensation, that is not all the 6’4″ Sho-time can do.

A home run-hitting machine, the two-way slugger has smashed long balls one after another, consistently leading the charts. While Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves has been keeping up toe to toe with Ohtani, AL fans are more focused on another player. Or more particularly, his single-season home run record, and whether Ohtani will be able to break it.

Injured Shohei Ohtani’s Home Run Pursuit

Due to a torn UCL in his elbow, Ohtani will no longer pitch this season. Fans had noticed his absence from the mound as of late, and on Wednesday, the Angels confirmed the worst. While surgery is not a given, Ohtani will only be found at the plate for the remainder of the season.

Critics have long wondered whether Sho-time’s body could handle the strain of being both sides of the ball. He also already underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018. While this means more time on the plate, could it translate to more home runs?

Given Ohtani’s stellar display before the All-Star break in July, MLB analysts predicted at least 60 homers for 2023. While pitching is out of the question for now, Ohtani is still a huge asset to the Halos with his league-leading 44 HRs and power-hitting.

While it’s unlikely that he will break the record of Aaron Judge‘s 62 homers, Ohtani is certainly going to come close to it. His team has 11 series remaining for the season, and how each team performs at the tail end of the season will determine how successful Sho-time’s pursuit of the record is. Meanwhile, he is sure to be a sought-after name in free agency, despite his injury.

Sho-time is On Track For a $500 Million Contract

For all the ruckus that he’s caused this season, Shohei Ohtani will have his pick and choose of a team come off-season. The Angels decided to keep him at the trade deadline, hoping for a re-signing, but Ohtani has given no indication of his next destination.

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Nevertheless, the Japanese phenom can demand any price and he will receive it. As analysts predict, a $500 million contract should be the minimum. Some have even gone as far as an eye-popping $700 million.

Whatever the exact numbers, Ohtani is sure to break the contract ceiling in possibly all major American sports.

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