- Home
- Shohei...
Shohei Ohtani chasing feat no NL player has accomplished since 1937
Shohei Ohtani is one of the most unique players MLB has ever seen because of his ability to pitch and hit at high levels. Now in a season where he's been unable to pitch because of Tommy John surgery, he could become one of MLB's most unique players for another reason.
Ohtani to open play on July 5 is leading the National League in home runs, is No. 2 in batting average, and No. 3 in RBIs. He has a legitimate shot at winning the National League Triple Crown by leading the NL in batting average, home runs and RBIs.
The Triple Crown alone is a rare feat. Only 18 players have ever done it, and only five players have done it since integration in 1947. All five of those players were in the American League. Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers was the last winner back in 2012, becoming the first player to do so since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
Ohtani is chasing an even more formidable ghost.
The last NL Triple Crown came all the way back in 1937 when outfielder Joe Medwick won it for the St. Louis Cardinals.
There's a very real chance for Ohtani to pull this off.
He's comfortably leading the NL in home runs with five more than Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker. Walker's chances to track down Ohtani are damaged because he only faces the Dodgers four more times (he has nine homers in nine games against LA this season).
Ohtani is only one point off the batting average lead behind Padres utilityman Jurickson Profar, who is having a career year batting .317.
RBIs will be tougher for Ohtani, particularly because he's been leading off and his chances to drive in runs depend largely on the bottom of the Dodgers order getting on base and turning the lineup over. Ohtani has 64 RBIs this season. Marcell Ozuna for the Braves has 67, while Alec Bohm of the Phillies leads the NL with 70 driven in.
Ohtani will be in the leadoff spot for the foreseeable future since Mookie Betts is still working his way back from a broken hand. While that could damage his chances of driving in runs, it hasn't had a huge impact so far. In 16 games as a leadoff man Ohtani is hitting .328 with eight home runs and 18 RBIs. Those are better per-game marks than his .314 average, 19 homers and 46 RBIs in 69 games batting second.
This will be worth keeping a close eye on the rest of the way because Ohtani, who seems to make history every time he puts on a uniform, has a real shot at doing something that hasn't been done in nearly 100 years.
- https://www.msn.com/en-sg/sport/mlb/shohei-ohtani-chasing-feat-no-nl-player-has-accomplished-since-1937/ar-BB1ptYXx?ocid=00000000
Related
Ranking MLB's stadiums from 1 to 30: Baseball travelers' favorite ballparks
USA TODAY's baseball travelers vote on their favorite ballparks, from the best to the worst.
SportWho is playing in NFL Week 14? Here's the complete schedule for Dec. 5-9 games
Take a look at the 2024 schedule for NFL Week 14, which opens with the Detroit Lions hosting the Green Bay Packers.
SportWho is playing in NFL Week 9? Here's the complete schedule for Oct. 31-Nov. 4 games
Take at look at the complete schedule for Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season, which features the Lions on the road at Green Bay.
SportWho is playing in NFL Week 12? Here's the complete schedule for Nov. 21-25 games
Week 12 of the NFL season features the "Harbaugh Bowl" on Monday night: John Harbaugh's Ravens on the road to face Jim Harbaugh's Chargers.
SportComplete college football television schedule for the 2024 season
The 2024 college football season schedule runs from the end of the August to the end of January. A look at the national television schedule.
Sport2024 NFL regular season: Complete week-by-week schedule for 18-week, 17-game slate
The complete schedule for the 2024 NFL season has been revealed. Check out the week-by-week slate for all 18 weeks of the season.
SportWho is playing in NFL Sunday Night Football? Here's the complete 2024 SNF schedule
Complete week-by-week schedule for the "Sunday Night Football" games during the 2024 NFL season.
SportBest Open-World RPGs Like Skyrim (2024 Edition)
There's no denying that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was one of the 2010s most influential open-world RPGs. If after all these years, you're looking for a game that's going to scratch that Skyrim itch, then Joel RPG has the list for you.
Sport