It's Shotime!! Is Baseball's Unicorn cementing Legendary status in front of our eyes?

After already cementing himself as one of the best players in the league with his heroics in 2021 and 2022, Ohtani was primed for another record-breaking season. Coming off a season where he narrowly missed out on winning the AL MVP award to Aaron Judge, Ohtani had a chip on his shoulder and was determined to make his mark in 2023. He wasted no time making a statement, dominating on the mound and at the plate from the start of the season.

But this success didn't come out of nowhere. Ohtani's impressive performances in the World Baseball Classic, including a game-winning strikeout against his teammate and fellow MVP candidate, Mike Trout, were a glimpse into the greatness that was yet to come. Ohtani's ability to impact the game both on the mound and at the plate has been nothing short of remarkable. And the impact of his dual-threat ability has been felt not only on the field but in the stands and in the league as a whole. Ohtani's electrifying performances have brought a new level of excitement and energy to the game, attracting a whole new audience of fans. 

Overall, Ohtani's 2023 season has been nothing short of legendary. Shohei Ohtani is baseball's only unicorn, a player who can excel at both pitching and hitting at the major league level. The Japanese star has quickly become a household name in baseball, thanks to his remarkable talents on the diamond. 

Ohtani is a force to be reckoned with, no matter which side of the ball he's on. Of course, even the best players can have bad nights on one side of the spectrum. Ohtani is no exception, but what's remarkable about him is his ability to make up for it with brilliant nights on the other side. For example, he might struggle on the mound in one game but then hit a clutch home run to secure a win for his team. This versatility makes Ohtani such a valuable asset to his team, the Los Angeles Angels.

When Ohtani steps onto the field, fans and analysts alike are always curious to see what he'll do next. Will he strike out 10 batters? Will he hit a 450-foot home run? The possibilities are endless, and that's what makes him such an exciting player to watch. Beyond his individual accomplishments, Ohtani's dual-threat ability has also had a significant impact on his team. 

The Pitcher

Shohei's dominance on the mound is not new having finished 4th in Cy Young voting last season. He has more or less continued his dominance from last year. Shohei ranks top 5 in strikeouts and has a 7-4 W/L record through the first half. His ERA has risen to 3.3 from last year, but a strong second half firmly puts him in the running for the Cy Young award. 

But it's not just the strikeout numbers that make Ohtani's pitching so remarkable. He also boasts some of the lowest opponent batting averages in the league, holding batters to just a .189 average at the plate. Ohtani is top 3 in strikeout percentages (at-bats ending in strikeouts) and has some of the lowest On-Base percentages against him.  And when it comes to pure speed, Ohtani is one of the few pitchers in the game capable of reaching triple digits with his fastball, regularly clocking in at around 100-101 mph.

In addition to his fastball, Ohtani also has an impressive arsenal of off-speed pitches that make it incredibly difficult for batters to make solid contact. His slider and splitter in particular have been effective weapons this season, and have played a prominent role in his success on the mound.

The Hitter

If you thought Shohei Ohtani was just a dominant pitcher, think again. He's currently leading the league in home runs with an impressive 32, which is already more than halfway to his career high of 46. That's not all - he's also in the 3rd in the league for RBIs with 71. Ohtani is making a huge impact on the game from both sides of the field.

Not only is he hitting for power, but Ohtani is also one of the highest players in the league in average exit velocities. In fact, his 93.8 mph exit velocity is 6th in the league. That means every time he makes contact with the ball, he's doing it with a lot of force.

Ohtani's hitting prowess doesn't stop there. He also has a supremely high batting average of .302. That's a remarkable feat, especially when you consider the pressure he faces to perform on both the pitching and hitting sides.

There's no doubt that Ohtani's incredible dual-threat ability has had a massive impact on the game. He is a true game-changer who can make an impact at any moment. It's not often that you see a player dominating the game from both sides, but Ohtani is making it look easy. He's a once-in-a-lifetime talent that baseball fans should cherish while they can.

It's not just the numbers that make Ohtani so special, though. It's the fact that he's doing things on both sides of the game that we haven't seen since Ruth's time. He is having Hall of Fame trajectories on both sides of the game, and there's no doubt that he'll go down as one of the greatest baseball players of all time if he keeps up this level of performance. Babe Ruth's best seasons occurred after he had quit pitching to hit full-time. He never achieved the kind of two-way dominance that we are seeing from Shohei.

In many ways, Ohtani is revolutionizing the game of baseball. He's proving that a player can excel as both a pitcher and hitter at the highest level, and he's showing us all what's possible when you have talent, determination, and a deep love for the game. If you haven't been paying attention to Shohei Ohtani this season, now is the time to start. This is a player who is changing the game, and we may never see another season like this again.

(stats from 16th July).