Shohei Ohtani: Soon to break the team record for the first time in half a century! A thorough analysis of Shohei Ohtani’s superhuman pitch selection skills.

Otani has broken his own record for most hits in a season! Ohtani’s “evolution” never stops!

Another one who has exceeded his own limits.

Shohei Ohtani (31) of the Dodgers drew his 97th walk of the season against the Rockies on September 9 (Japan time), surpassing his previous record of 96 set during his time with the Angels and breaking his own record for most walks in a season.

He also went 2-for-4 in a game against the Phillies on September 16, giving him a total of 105 walks so far this season (as of September 17). This ranks third in the majors behind only the Yankees’ Aaron Judge (32).

The Dodgers’ team record is 110, set by Jim Wynn in 1975. Ohtani is scheduled to play in the remaining 15 games this season, so he is sure to break this record. As the season comes to a close and the battle for the district championship is expected to intensify, there will be more and more respect for Ohtani in the future. The four-ball game is a sign that he is a strong hitter.

Ohtani has so far recorded a National League-leading 19 earned runs, but he has also won the remaining 86 ground balls by his own efforts. Takahiro Tokitsu, a professional baseball commentator, analyzes, “The evolution of Ohtani’s pitch selection has led to his record-breaking performance.

When you are facing a hitter as strong as Otani, it is rare for a batter to choose to play in the strike zone. A batter is a creature that gets frustrated when all he gets are ball pitches. If the batter cannot maintain his composure there, he will force his hand on a pitch that is too close to the mark, resulting in the mass production of tripped-up ground balls. How to avoid this worst-case scenario is the difference between the very best and the rest.

As he himself said, “It is important in the batter’s box to be patient when the ball does not come easily in the zone,” there is no doubt that the evolution of his pitch selection has been a major theme of this season. Because of his fast swing speed, he is able to draw the ball to the very edge, and because of his calmness in any situation, he is able to comfortably see off ball pitches. There are only a few people in the majors, including Otani, who possess this skill.”

Despite a lower batting average than last year, Otani’s .395 on-base percentage is higher than last year’s, indicating that the leadoff man’s “superhuman pitch selection skills” are making a significant contribution to the team.

He is a leadoff hitter, and his ability to choose his pitches well is a key indicator of how well he is doing. As long as this pitch selection doesn’t decline, we can expect multiple home runs in a single game. We can also expect him to upset Kyle Schwarber (32, Phillies) for the home run crown.

Otani is probably the only player who can excite fans without swinging a bat.

From the October 3 and 10, 2025 issue of FRIDAY