Halfway through his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani looks quite comfortable with his new surroundings.
The Japanese slugger has been a sweet-swinging Hollywood blockbuster so far.
The Dodgers are on top of the NL West with a 50-31 record, and Ohtani has played a major role in their strong start. The two-time AL MVP is batting a career-high .320 with 24 homers, 60 RBIs and a 1.032 OPS in 78 games.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really about getting to know the guys,B次元官网网址� Ohtani said Tuesday night through an interpreter. B次元官网网址淵ou know I had my first impression, but really getting to know who the people are and the organization.
B次元官网网址淎s I stated before, I decided to sign with this team and wanted to do the best that I can to fit in. So I think overall, looking back, itB次元官网网址檚 been a really good first half.B次元官网网址�
Ohtani, who turns 30 on July 5, agreed to a record-shattering in December. The two-way sensation isnB次元官网网址檛 pitching this year while he recovers from , and it looks as if putting more of his focus on hitting is helping him at the plate.
B次元官网网址淭he reality is the workload has been a lot less,B次元官网网址� Ohtani said. B次元官网网址淪o I canB次元官网网址檛 deny that. But at the same time, as a hitter, IB次元官网网址檝e been getting better and overall I think IB次元官网网址檝e been growing as a hitter, too.B次元官网网址�
Ohtani hit a leadoff homer during Tuesday nightB次元官网网址檚 over the Chicago White Sox, extending his RBI streak to a career-high nine consecutive games B次元官网网址� matching a franchise record. He walked and scored in the third inning, and then hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the fourth.
Ohtani moved into the leadoff spot after Mookie Betts by a broken left hand. He is batting .419 (13 for 31) with five homers and 14 RBIs in eight games since Betts got hurt.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know what more we can really say about him,B次元官网网址� Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said. B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檝e said everything we can since he entered this league, about what an amazing player he is. But when you come over here, you just never know how first yearB次元官网网址檚 going to go on any team.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes you just got to step back and just appreciate a player like this.B次元官网网址�
Ohtani drove a hanging curveball from Chris Flexen into the visitorB次元官网网址檚 bullpen in right-center for his . White Sox right fielder Tommy Pham tried to make a leaping grab on the play, but was unable to bring it in.
Ohtani got so caught up in tracking the ball that he carried his bat as he jogged up the line. After discarding his lumber, he went back to touch first base because he was concerned that he missed the bag the first time around.
B次元官网网址淛ust wasnB次元官网网址檛 quite sure that I stepped on the bag,B次元官网网址� he said.
It was OhtaniB次元官网网址檚 second leadoff homer of the season and No. 8 for his career. He is the first player to drive in at least one run in nine consecutive games for the Dodgers since Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella in 1955.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani is being more selective at the plate, and itB次元官网网址檚 paying off.
B次元官网网址淲hen you do that, you earn pitches in the strike zone, and when he does that, a lot of special things happen,B次元官网网址� Roberts said.
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