Shohei Ohtani Makes Baseball History with Unmatched Performance
NEW YORK — Add it to the list of things Shohei Ohtani has done that no one has done before in the recorded history of baseball: Seventeen hits in his last 20 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Ohtani’s towering, no-doubt, three-run moonshot in the eighth inning of the Dodgers‘ 8-0 win in Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday soared right over the Citi Field right-field foul pole and into the history books.
Before that moment, nobody had ever tallied 17 hits in any span of 20 at-bats with runners in scoring position — regular season and postseason. It was a Dodger who’d come closest. Frank Howard had a pair of 16-for-19 sprees for the Dodgers in 1962.
Now along comes Ohtani, who founded the 50-homer, 50-stolen base club in his first regular season with the Dodgers and yet has been the subject of chatter in this postseason because of his extreme splits. Going into Game 3, he was 4-for-5 with a homer and a pair of walks with runners in scoring position in this postseason, 6-for-8 with a homer and three walks with runners on base — and 0-for-19 with the bases empty. That grew to 0-for-21 before he stepped up against Mets reliever Tylor Megill with one out and two on in the eighth.
“Welcome to October, where everything is magnified,” said Hall of Famer John Smoltz on the FS1 broadcast.
That was still true after Ohtani connected against Megill. The only question was whether the baseball would stay fair. Statcast says it left Ohtani’s bat at 115.9 mph and sailed 397 feet right down the line, and the eye test that mattered — right-field ump Mike Muchlinski — ruled it fair. The Mets called for an umpire’s review and the home run was confirmed.
Expert Discussion
Guests:
- Dr. Emily Carter, Sports Psychologist
- Bob Johnson, Baseball Analyst
- Lisa Ainsworth, MLB Historian
In our discussion today, we explore the significance of Ohtani’s achievement and how it shapes the narrative of postseason performances.
Moderator: “What do you think makes Ohtani’s performance particularly outstanding in the context of baseball history?”
Dr. Emily Carter: “It’s a testament to his mental fortitude and skills. Hitting under pressure is something that separates great players from good ones.”
Bob Johnson: “Absolutely, and when you look at those statistics, it’s unprecedented! The pressure of October games magnifies every little detail.”
Lisa Ainsworth: “And let’s not forget, these performances can shape a player’s legacy. Ohtani is not just breaking records; he’s redefining what it means to be an exceptional player.”
What are your thoughts on Ohtani’s historic feat? Join the discussion below!