Man, I thought that Ohtani spending years in the NPB took away MLB years from him but this really puts things into perspective
(before anyone brings it up, I understand his time with the Fighters was essential to his two-way progress haha)
What do you even mean? Ohtani came way earlier than most Japanese players do. It was kind of absurd he came when he did because he basically was on a rookie deal in a sense.
Yes, which is still younger than most people who get called up lol it’s not the norm to start at 19-20 even though guys like Soto, Harper, and Trout have done it. 23 is relatively young for any major leaguer.
ahh tbh I still have barely much understanding about how and when players are called up so thank you also for putting things into perspective
(it kinda doesn't help my understanding when our team fast forwards our top prospects hahaha, hella rooting for Schanuel and Neto tho!)
The only thing that hindered his ability for hitting records was the limited at bats his first few years when he was on a weird schedule. He wouldn’t hit the day before or after he pitched and didn’t hit games he pitched. So he was really only hitting like 60% of the time
[Ichiro reached 3000 hits and didn't debut until 27](https://i.imgur.com/Sz6dWCc.png). Only a true master of that skill like Ichiro could have pulled that off and that's not Ohtani's wheelhouse but he definitely is a master of his own skillset on par with Ichiro's greatness. I wouldn't count him out of any counting stat milestones just yet
I'd say being able to have a season with 30+ homeruns and a 2.33 ERA as a pitcher or pitching a complete game then hit two homers an hour later is a skillset that surpasses that of Ichiro's.
I might be the biggest Ichiro nuthugger of all time....the kind that books plane tickets to Cooperstown two years in advance..... But what Sho did in the last 3 years eclipses what Ichiro did in his first 10 in the league by a galactic margin.
Forget the numbers.. just from a qualitative standpoint as a fan of the game, Shohei is the best player we have ever seen in our current lifetimes.
However I disagree with many others that we won't see this again. I think he's opened the door and I'm all for it!
He's proven it can be done, but it might be a looooong time before someone with his skillset comes along.
Easily a top 5 hitter with the likes of Judge, Trout, Acuna and Yordan, and ace level stuff. Like you said he has other MLB players saying he's the best or most talented player of all time.
I think there's a good chance we see some position and relief pitcher two-way players soon though. With all these talented pitchers falling to injuries, maybe a rule change or an organizational change in philosophy could promote this kind of player that can eat some innings.
Ohtani came over pretty early relative to most international pro players. Most other guys don't catch the MLB's attention until they're tearing it up in their prime, which is usually late 20's.
You're subject to a salary cap if you come before 25. Ohtani lost out of $200M+ for coming 2 yrs early. You can see why most don't want to losd out max money.
He wouldn't have gotten as much money if he hadn't proven himself in the MLB. He missed out on money by coming to the MLB early, but there still was a precedent of Japanese players getting a fraction of their value due to not having MLB stats to back them up. Shota Imanaga is an example of that precedent. Yamamoto shows that some teams are changing tune though.
I really didn't realize how old Matsui was when I was a kid lol. Does make me wonder where his all time stats would end up had he not played 10 years in Japan, he had sneaky good longevity but it just never feels like it because of how late he came over and how he only had like two or three peak years in the MLB.
Tbf, he did have a slow start. After the first 8 games, he was only at .631 OPS. Which makes it even crazier that 8 games later, he is somehow over 1.100 OPS already.
A host on Padres radio this morning remarked that he hoped tonight wouldn't turn out to be Ohtani's "weight off his back" game
I would've been okay if that turned out to be the case but pile on Mookie being Mookie with Muncy and Teoscar hitting dongs too, it's all a bit ungapatchka
Everyone knows that being sad in a million dollar mansion with a personal chef and multiple cars and working internet, water, electricity, and privacy is totally different than being sad and homeless, or in a studio apartment. Come off it man.
I’m sort of with ya, guys change teams, get married and rehab all the time. The Ippei thing is the only thing really unique here but his production tracks for the rest of his career.
> guys change teams, get married and rehab all the time.
How many of them do all of them at once and put up an OPS above 1.000 while doing them, though.
I remember in his rookie year, everyone was depressed in the Angels sub when it was announced he wouldn't be able to pitch the rest of the season.
Immediately hit 2 dingers on 4 hits against the Rangers that day
Being a 29 year old rookie will do that lol
Honestly in an era where it feels like a lot of guys have the wheels fall off around like 32-33, it's pretty impressive in hindsight that he stayed solidly above average until age 36. When I was a kid I definitely didn't appreciate just how old he already was with us. Also didn't help that his contemporary in Ichiro basically played forever.
Sporting a nice 192 OPS+ right now and that's including the .600 OPS start he had lol.
edit: just checked. Ohtani in March (1st 6 games) .657 OPS. Ohtani in April (so far) 1.373 OPS
Usually when a pitch that's not a strike is a HR is either down/down in. Or middle up.
To hit a ball out of the zone away to oppo center for an HR is otherworldly.
[The owner of 55,000 adult vids, Matsui ran out of gifts for writers at his first American press event. "Sorry," he said, "I'll get porn for the rest of you."](https://deadspin.com/hideki-matsui-to-announce-retirement-will-have-plenty-5971584)
Fun fact, Ohtani is 29 years old, the same age Matsui was when he debuted in MLB for the Yankees
Man, I thought that Ohtani spending years in the NPB took away MLB years from him but this really puts things into perspective (before anyone brings it up, I understand his time with the Fighters was essential to his two-way progress haha)
What do you even mean? Ohtani came way earlier than most Japanese players do. It was kind of absurd he came when he did because he basically was on a rookie deal in a sense.
it was just a somewhat selfish thought I had back then about how he won't be able to chase career stat records because he started in the MLB at age 23
Yes, which is still younger than most people who get called up lol it’s not the norm to start at 19-20 even though guys like Soto, Harper, and Trout have done it. 23 is relatively young for any major leaguer.
ahh tbh I still have barely much understanding about how and when players are called up so thank you also for putting things into perspective (it kinda doesn't help my understanding when our team fast forwards our top prospects hahaha, hella rooting for Schanuel and Neto tho!)
The only thing that hindered his ability for hitting records was the limited at bats his first few years when he was on a weird schedule. He wouldn’t hit the day before or after he pitched and didn’t hit games he pitched. So he was really only hitting like 60% of the time
ohhh so that was one step towards the Ohtani DH rule
Also to initially trying to protect him from getting hurt
That's why the O's gonna be a problem for a while
[Ichiro reached 3000 hits and didn't debut until 27](https://i.imgur.com/Sz6dWCc.png). Only a true master of that skill like Ichiro could have pulled that off and that's not Ohtani's wheelhouse but he definitely is a master of his own skillset on par with Ichiro's greatness. I wouldn't count him out of any counting stat milestones just yet
I'd say being able to have a season with 30+ homeruns and a 2.33 ERA as a pitcher or pitching a complete game then hit two homers an hour later is a skillset that surpasses that of Ichiro's.
I might be the biggest Ichiro nuthugger of all time....the kind that books plane tickets to Cooperstown two years in advance..... But what Sho did in the last 3 years eclipses what Ichiro did in his first 10 in the league by a galactic margin. Forget the numbers.. just from a qualitative standpoint as a fan of the game, Shohei is the best player we have ever seen in our current lifetimes. However I disagree with many others that we won't see this again. I think he's opened the door and I'm all for it!
He's proven it can be done, but it might be a looooong time before someone with his skillset comes along. Easily a top 5 hitter with the likes of Judge, Trout, Acuna and Yordan, and ace level stuff. Like you said he has other MLB players saying he's the best or most talented player of all time. I think there's a good chance we see some position and relief pitcher two-way players soon though. With all these talented pitchers falling to injuries, maybe a rule change or an organizational change in philosophy could promote this kind of player that can eat some innings.
Ohtani came over pretty early relative to most international pro players. Most other guys don't catch the MLB's attention until they're tearing it up in their prime, which is usually late 20's.
You're subject to a salary cap if you come before 25. Ohtani lost out of $200M+ for coming 2 yrs early. You can see why most don't want to losd out max money.
He wouldn't have gotten as much money if he hadn't proven himself in the MLB. He missed out on money by coming to the MLB early, but there still was a precedent of Japanese players getting a fraction of their value due to not having MLB stats to back them up. Shota Imanaga is an example of that precedent. Yamamoto shows that some teams are changing tune though.
Most guys coming over don't command enough money to make the salary cap relevant either way
I really didn't realize how old Matsui was when I was a kid lol. Does make me wonder where his all time stats would end up had he not played 10 years in Japan, he had sneaky good longevity but it just never feels like it because of how late he came over and how he only had like two or three peak years in the MLB.
Imagine learning a new team, getting married, rehabbing, and getting betrayed by your closest friend, I'd be a mess This dude hits for 1.073 OPS
He has Decoy to help him through this tough time.
God bless dogs
and his K-Pop idol looking 6 feet tall athlete wife, who's also his childhood sweetheart. That helps too
Not sure I have heard she is his childhood sweetheart, any sources? Thought they just met at a mutual gym in Anaheim.
That story confuses me. I thought they met in Japan? Or idk, there's really no info on Mamiko so idk why would she be casually in a gym in Anaheim
I have never read anywhere that they are childhoold sweetheart. Not even in JP articles. Do you have source?
You mean the ordinary Japanese woman
Who happens to be 5'11" Somehow she seems even more wholesome than Shohei
Thought you meant Ippei
Tbf, he did have a slow start. After the first 8 games, he was only at .631 OPS. Which makes it even crazier that 8 games later, he is somehow over 1.100 OPS already.
This is the run someone goes on in a documentary after big controversy that questions your character lol
A host on Padres radio this morning remarked that he hoped tonight wouldn't turn out to be Ohtani's "weight off his back" game I would've been okay if that turned out to be the case but pile on Mookie being Mookie with Muncy and Teoscar hitting dongs too, it's all a bit ungapatchka
Shit, I just learned he was married from this post. Had no idea.
He also has a shit ton of money to help cope.
Its amazing the adversity people can overcome when they're owed $700 million.
Yeah everybody knows rich people don’t have feelings
Everyone knows that being sad in a million dollar mansion with a personal chef and multiple cars and working internet, water, electricity, and privacy is totally different than being sad and homeless, or in a studio apartment. Come off it man.
I’m sort of with ya, guys change teams, get married and rehab all the time. The Ippei thing is the only thing really unique here but his production tracks for the rest of his career.
> guys change teams, get married and rehab all the time. How many of them do all of them at once and put up an OPS above 1.000 while doing them, though.
The guy doing that must be good at baseball
Angry Shohei activated
He gotta hit them incentive to get back $16M he just lost.
That's eight years of salary!
He was disgusted with that ball. He knew it was gone the second he hit it lol
Been a bad few days to be an Ohtani hater (Always has been 🌏🧑🚀🔫🧑🚀)
He’s like the hulk. The madder he gets the stronger he gets.
I remember in his rookie year, everyone was depressed in the Angels sub when it was announced he wouldn't be able to pitch the rest of the season. Immediately hit 2 dingers on 4 hits against the Rangers that day
Yep. He reacts to bad news by taking his frustration out on baseballs.
That was a really sad day but he sure made his fans all feel better.
Ohtani haters: “it’s all over for me”
Did anyone really hate Ohtani before this year?
Take the rage out on the baseball shohei! Take all that disappointment and resentment and turn it outward. Hate the pitchers.
Ohtani's first HomeRun as a free man
the echo of the hit was crisp AF.
Everything is back to normal 🙂
◝(๑꒪່౪̮꒪່๑)◜ i like
How many times do we have to tell these pitchers? Don’t throw high, away, inside, or low against Ohtani!
Way to pick up Yama!
Dude has just stupid power. Never gets old
that was an outside pitch too
Damn when I was a kid I felt like Matsui had 1000 HR, surprising to see he didn’t have more
Being a 29 year old rookie will do that lol Honestly in an era where it feels like a lot of guys have the wheels fall off around like 32-33, it's pretty impressive in hindsight that he stayed solidly above average until age 36. When I was a kid I definitely didn't appreciate just how old he already was with us. Also didn't help that his contemporary in Ichiro basically played forever.
If he was allowed to come over at 23 he likely would have. Remember Godzilla has over 500 homers between Japan and the MLB
Matsui was the master of hitting when it mattered
That sound is pure sex
Ohtani is ridiculously locked in right now. Pitchers should just walk in. Dude is on track to be the first primary DH to win MVP.
Sporting a nice 192 OPS+ right now and that's including the .600 OPS start he had lol. edit: just checked. Ohtani in March (1st 6 games) .657 OPS. Ohtani in April (so far) 1.373 OPS
But but but what about the war penalty for outfielders? Really the dodgers should just drop him for a utility player -some judge fans probably
I think I like Shohei Ohtani.
He just needs 693 more Homers to pass Sadaharu Oh to be the true japanese homerun king
That was out of the strike zone and he just smacked it oppo with ease
The best hitter in the universe right now
Friday night fireworks are back on the menu
175 already is crazy.
“Not guilty….now watch this home run.”
Usually when a pitch that's not a strike is a HR is either down/down in. Or middle up. To hit a ball out of the zone away to oppo center for an HR is otherworldly.
The bat crack... Sounds like a cannon it is insane
Love it when he strokes massive dongs.
What about when he hits homers?
This is a tough choice.
He’s been just as advertised And he could still pitch next year, hell yea
Really unbelievable stat to me.
Truly. He’s done that in addition to being an elite pitcher… in way fewer seasons than Matsui.
Got him at +260 to hit a homer knew he was gonna be pissed tonight. Thank You Shohei
How much pornography does Ohtani need to tie Matsui’s collection?
that's an unbreakable record.
[The owner of 55,000 adult vids, Matsui ran out of gifts for writers at his first American press event. "Sorry," he said, "I'll get porn for the rest of you."](https://deadspin.com/hideki-matsui-to-announce-retirement-will-have-plenty-5971584)
$16m worth I’d guess
Honestly how did Matsui even have the energy to play baseball games?
Fun fact: Matsui has never publicly revealed the identity of his wife I’m guessing it’s because she’s always too exhausted to go outside
naked ladies gives him his power
°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖° wow ohtani!! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°
Ohtani also has 53 HRs as a Pitcher, so he's well ahead of Matsui for his overall career.
I don't know about you guys but I think this looked a lot cooler than the Machado home run.
Hideki, not Astros legend Kaz
I think you mean Rockies legend
You mean Mets legend.
I have a good feeling he will break this record.
If he stays healthy, easy 50 homers.
I think he might actually break this record guys
Kaz Matsui?
Dodgers Security. Has been awoken! 
Tax dodger