Shohei Ohtani’s bat is muck like Thor’s hammer—a weapon of power and dominance. Ohtani has been nothing short of legendary this season; even though he couldn’t pitch and hit both because of his elbow surgery, his bat tore the records of many greats. From Alex Rodriguez to Babe Ruth, Ohtani has slashed the milestones achieved by baseball giants and re-written his name in history. And his feat of reaching 50-50, a club that never existed before, is something no one thought was possible. But ‘impossible’ is not a word in the Japanese star’s dictionary, we suppose.

Now, Shohei Ohtani is about to get a taste of playoff baseball in the United States. The Dodgers have locked up the NL West, with many wondering how the two-time MVP will make his mark in the post-season. But given Shohei’s form, it is not far-fetched to think he will do great; what’s truly baffling is how one player can achieve so much in just a single season. If you’re wondering what the secret to Ohtani’s glory is – it’s not just his bat or his gameplay – it’s his wife. The saying goes: Behind every great man, there’s a great woman, but in Ohtani’s case, it is a fact attested by his dad.

Toru Ohtani shares the backdrop of his son’s success

Shohei Ohtani may be away from his family, but nothing has gone unnoticed by the icon’s father—Toru Ohtani. Senior Ohtani had the chance to watch his son play in Los Angeles this season, and after the Dodgers were able to clinch their 11th NL West title in 12 years, he penned down a lovely heartfelt letter to his son. While the letter focused on Ohtani’s success in the field, it also revealed some personal facts about Ohtani’s personal life with Mamiko Tanaka.

In the letter, Toru Ohtani mentioned that he was surprised about his son’s marriage to Mamiko Tanaka, last December. But he credited Mamiko as the reason behind Shohei’s growth; not just as a person, but as a player. He emphasized how Ohtani seemed more grounded and focused, seeming to have rounded up his rough edges. “Shohei has reached a major milestone by marrying Mamiko, and I have the impression that he is playing baseball more calmly… Without Mamiko-san, you wouldn’t be the Shohei Ohtani you are today,” said Toru Ohtani, acknowledging Mamiko’s support through the various challenges that Shohei had to face. 

Ohtani’s letter was penned with warmth and affection for his son; he exhibited pride in his son’s journey so far. Toru Ohtani even went as far as to mention Dekopin – the Japanese name for Ohtani’s dog, Decoy. Shohei Ohtani has been inseparable from his fur-baby; Decoy’s first pitch with his dad had thousands of fans waiting for their merch at Los Angeles Dodgers stadium. These minor details that Ohtani’s dad brought up highlighted how, despite being far away, he has managed to keep track of his son’s life. 

Shohei Ohtani suprasses Ichiro Suzuki’s record

Shohei Ohtani has slashed many records this season; from getting into the 40-40 club, the quickest compared to any other stars; to inaugurating the 50-50 club. And now, he has earned another landmark. After winning the NL West, the Dodgers started their last series of the regular season with a staggering 11-4 win over the Colorado Rockies. And Ohtani just added another hat to his growing collection—he managed his 57th stolen base of the season, giving Toru Ohtani one more reason to be proud of! 

Before this iconic game, Ichiro Suzuki held the record for the most stolen bases by a Japanese-born player in one season. He had 56, which he managed to do in 2001, and Ohtani managed to break his icon’s record. Moreover, he became the first man since 2001 to record 400 total bases in one season. The two-way star continues to prove every day why the Dodgers spent a whopping $700 million on him. Shohei Ohtani’s Friday stint also puts him closer to Elly De La Cruz, who currently holds the season’s most stolen bases.

However, the regular games are not over, so, the Japanese two-way star has more chances to shatter more records. Now, he is a favorite to win the MVP award, and if the team can keep up the pace, they might just win the championship. What do you think, how many more records might Ohtani break? Let us know in the comments below.