Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks to the media after the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 7-6 in recreation 5 to win the 2024 World Collection at Yankee Stadium in New York, N.Y., Oct. 30. AFP-Yonhap
Shohei Ohtani mentioned he was “honored” to have sealed his first World Collection title after the Los Angeles Dodgers victory over the New York Yankees within the Fall Basic on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Japanese celebrity signed for the Dodgers in December final yr after six fruitless seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, decided to get a style of postseason glory.
Ohtani’s quest for a championship paid off spectacularly on Wednesday because the Dodgers produced a surprising rally to defeat the Yankees 7-6 and clinch a 4-1 collection victory.
Though Ohtani had a comparatively quiet World Collection — failing to get a house run and struggling a shoulder harm in recreation two — it did little to take the shine of his maiden championship.
“I am honored to have the ability to be a part of a season the place we performed the longest, and to have the ability to get to know this crew,” mentioned Ohtani following a beer and champagne-soaked celebration within the Dodgers locker-room.
“My first yr and expertise successful a World Collection has been an incredible honor.”
Ohtani’s debut season with the Dodgers had threatened to be engulfed by scandal earlier than a ball had been hit in March, with the slugger’s interpreter arrested for stealing hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from the participant to repay unlawful playing money owed.
Nevertheless, he would go on to supply a scintillating common season marketing campaign, turning into the primary participant in baseball historical past to amass 50 house runs and 50 stolen bases in the identical season to assist arrange the crew’s profitable postseason marketing campaign.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way participant Shohei Ohtani, heart, celebrates within the locker room after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in recreation 4 to win the 2024 MLB World Collection at Yankee Stadium in New York, N.Y., Oct. 31. Reuters-Yonhap
Ohtani mentioned the resilience and assist of his team-mates had helped him get via the season.
“We had been capable of get via the common season, I believe, due to the energy of this crew, this group,” Ohtani mentioned.
“And the success of the postseason is similar to how we had been capable of pull it off throughout the common season.
“Once more, the energy of the group. Extraordinarily honored to be part of this.”
Ohtani mentioned that whereas Dodgers stars Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman had been the driving power of the crew, the success of the marketing campaign had been as a result of depth of all the roster.
“I actually felt just like the professionalism of the 2 gamers (Betts and Freeman) actually stands out, and other than the 2 gamers, I do really feel like we had a extremely good lineup with a variety of good hitters, 1 via 9,” he mentioned.
“It actually allowed me to raise my recreation as properly, not simply technically, but additionally my professionalism.”
Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts in the meantime paid tribute to Ohtani’s championship-winning debut season with the membership.
“Six years within the States, arguably the most effective participant within the Large Leagues,” Roberts mentioned.
“He dedicated to us, and he needed to play for a championship. For it to sort of come to fruition in his first yr is fairly exceptional.
“What Shohei’s accomplished to our ball membership, the Dodger fan base domestically, globally, I simply do not assume you possibly can quantify. And he is simply such a superb man.
“He was enjoying with one arm within the postseason. So most guys would most likely faucet out, however he was going to not be denied at enjoying and posting and being within the lineup.” (AFP)
