Shohei Ohtani: A Triple Threat in Baseball

• MLB
• Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani continues to make a name for himself in baseball. His most recent achievement came on a Thursday when he was announced as the third year's winner of the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. This accolade adds to his already impressive collection, which includes being named the AL MVP for the second time in three seasons and winning the Silver Slugger at DH.

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A Historic Achievement

Winning the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award for three consecutive years is no small feat. This achievement has only been previously accomplished by Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who won it five years in a row from 2003 to 2007. Ortiz holds the record for the most wins, having received the award eight times. Hal McRae and Martinez are the only players to have won it at least thrice. The award was first introduced in 1973 to honor the creation of the Designated Hitter in the American League and was named after Martinez in 2004.

Ohtani's Outstanding Performance

Ohtani, at the age of 29, has had an exceptional year. He batted .304/.412/.654 with 44 homers, 26 doubles, eight triples, 20 stolen bases, 102 runs scored, and 95 RBIs in 135 games. He led the AL in homers, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS (1.066), and total bases (325). He achieved all this despite suffering an injury to his right oblique during batting practice in September. Although he tried to return to the lineup multiple times, he was officially ruled out for the season on September 16.

Injury and Recovery

Adding to his challenges, Ohtani also tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow while pitching in the first game of a doubleheader on August 23. This injury will prevent him from throwing until 2025. Despite this setback, Ohtani missed no time as a hitter and was back in the DH lineup for the second doubleheader game that day. Ohtani underwent surgery to repair his elbow in September and is expected to be ready for Spring Training as a designated hitter.

The Future of Ohtani in MLB

Currently, Ohtani is the most coveted free agent in MLB history. Given his performance this season, he has a high chance of winning the Edgar Martinez Award next year. Braves DH Marcell Ozuna was his top challenger, who hit .274/.351/.567 with 40 homers, 29 doubles, and 100 RBIs in 142 games as a DH. Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, another top candidate for the honor, has been playing more outfield in recent years, which has affected his numbers exclusively as a DH.

Ohtani carefully considers his options in free agency, keeping the process under wraps. While the Angels are interested in re-signing him, he has many suitors and is expected to command the largest contract in MLB history. His free agency has become the biggest storyline in baseball, with fans and industry insiders eagerly awaiting the annual MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville. Ohtani's future club and signing date remain a mystery, but industry consensus suggests he will not prolong the process.