For six years, Shohei Ohtani was left on the surface wanting in of Main League Baseball’s postseason. A lot, if not all of that being because of the ineptitude of the Los Angeles Angels as a corporation. In the latest years when Ohtani was clearly one of the best participant within the sport and through baseball’s most-watched time of the 12 months, he was nowhere to be discovered.
However for the primary time in Ohtani’s profession, the two-time league MVP will probably be taking part in within the postseason when the Dodgers tackle the San Diego Padres within the NLDS, beginning Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. That is is large — and never only for him.
Each sport ought to have its finest gamers taking part in within the playoffs. The NBA with out LeBron James, the NFL with out Patrick Mahomes or the NHL with out Connor McDavid would really feel incomplete. Sadly, baseball has been unable to see its greatest famous person on its greatest stage.
To grasp the significance of Ohtani’s presence within the postseason, you must return to a time earlier than he was one of the best within the recreation. For years previous to Ohtani being extensively touted as one of the best participant on the earth, his outdated teammate Mike Trout held that crown. But, as Ohtani would quickly discover out, Trout, regardless of having a number of the finest offensive seasons in current reminiscence, reached the postseason one time throughout the peak of his powers. And by the point he and Ohtani teammed up, they by no means completed increased than third place within the AL West whilst one of the crucial proficient duos the game has ever seen.
Reaching the postseason was one thing of a forgone conclusion when he signed with the Dodgers final offseason. Now the dream of seeing the sport’s finest participant in high-pressure, high-leverage conditions is right here and it is precisely what everybody desires to see.
The 2024 common season was one hell of a postseason preview for Ohtani, who exceeded even his lofty expectations in his first 12 months in Dodger blue. He had one of the best offensive season of his profession, practically profitable the Triple Crown and have become the founding member of the 50/50 membership. He is a driving pressure in a proficient L.A. lineup, taking up because the crew’s leadoff man when Mookie Betts broke his hand earlier within the season.
There are a handful of gamers who’ve the flexibility to rise to the event when huge moments current themselves and Ohtani has proven that he’s a type of gamers. And there’s no higher place than the postseason to have that capability on full show.
When he closed for Workforce Japan within the World Baseball Traditional final season, you noticed it. When the world watched as he was a homer shy of 50-50, he homered virtually as if he knew the eyes of the world have been on him and added one other homer for good measure. Even the mystique of him probably coming back from his torn UCL to pitch in postseason, whereas it may not occur, the truth that it isn’t a non-zero probability provides solely extra intrigue.
In his first style of the postseason, any casting of his legacy being tarnished or on the road with no deep Dodgers run could be extraordinarily hyperbolic. But when he performs effectively, it will add to an already prolonged résumé and the aura of who he has develop into as a participant. And it’s not simply one thing performed for Ohtani.
Traditionally, gamers who carry out or don’t carry out within the postseason are considered in a special gentle regardless of their achievements. Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Chipper Jones and Albert Pujols would all be Corridor of Famers with out ever sniffing the postseason, however the truth that they have been nice there solely bolsters their legends.
Conversely, Clayton Kershaw is one of the best pitcher of his era, but for a lot of his lengthy and storied profession, his lack of success within the postseason turns into a part of his story.
For now, Ohtani has a clear slate and the chapter on his postseason legacy is unwritten. This month provides him a possibility to proceed his trek towards turning into one in every of baseball’s immortals if he succeeds.
Now the world waits.
