Shohei Ohtani Captivates the World With His Dedication and Dominant Two-Way Play, Earning First World Series MVP
From a season of poor performance, Shohei Ohtani turned things around and became the MVP of the championship series by striking out 10 and hitting 3 home runs as the "No. 1 pitcher!
The best performance ever!
The moment his third home run soared into the center-field stands, even superstar teammates like Freddie Freeman (36) wore expressions not of joy, but of shock—and perhaps even disbelief. All they could do was stare in awe as the MVP himself trotted calmly around the diamond.
Baseball is a team sport. Yet on October 18 (Japan time), during Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium, the night belonged entirely to Shohei Ohtani (31).
“Taking the mound in the most crucial game of the season, Ohtani struck out three batters in a row in the first inning. Then, in the bottom half, he launched a leadoff home run—and added two more monster blasts in the fourth and seventh innings.
On the mound, he dominated the Brewers lineup, giving up only two hits and no runs while striking out ten over six and two-thirds innings. It was, without question, a historic performance—perhaps the greatest in baseball history,” said a reporter on site.
Ohtani single-handedly led the Dodgers to the league title—but heading into Game 4, he had been struggling.
“Managers of both the Reds in the Wild Card round and the Phillies in the Division Series refused to give him anything to hit, even bringing in tricky left-handers. His timing fell apart, and his postseason batting average had dipped below .200,”
explained another local correspondent.
Baseball analyst Takahiro Tokotsu noted that Ohtani’s patience, even in a slump, laid the groundwork for his breakout.
“Through Game 3, you could see his frustration—opening up too early, chasing breaking balls. But he kept drawing walks, maintaining an on-base percentage above .300.
Even when his bat was cold, he never stopped contributing to the team. That disciplined mindset helped him reset mentally and refocus on a simple goal: ‘When you get your pitch, don’t miss it.’ His selflessness restored his rhythm.”
Still, that 143-meter blast in the fourth inning came off an inside cutter from right-hander Chad Patrick (27)—a pitch that wasn’t even a mistake.
“It was in on his hands, practically out of the zone,” said Tokotsu. “Only Ohtani could turn that into a roof-shot.”
Manager Dave Roberts has stated, “There are no limits—he can throw up to 100 pitches if needed.” With his command of sweepers, sinkers, and splitters improving each outing, Ohtani’s pitching form appears to be nearing peak condition.
“He’s still getting better,” Tokotsu continued. “In the World Series, we could see the ultimate version of Ohtani—his resurgent power at the plate combined with his refined, dominant pitching. The full-force two-way Ohtani.”
By staying committed to teamwork during his slump, Ohtani set the stage for this historic solo showcase. Now, his sights are set on a second consecutive world title—and his first-ever World Series MVP.
—from “FRIDAY”, November 7, 2025 issue
PHOTO： AFLO
