Shohei Ohtani 2022 Toward further evolution April 7, 17:02

Major League Baseball will start on the 8th of Japan time.

Shohei Ohtani of the Angels who has become the "face" of the major leagues due to his historical success last season.

The 27-year-old is about to make a leap forward in 2022, looking back on the year when he won the MVP with a full vote with 9 wins and 2 losses and 46 home runs and his best record.

From the words of Otani and his teammates at the camp, he explored the evolution in the fifth year of the Major League Baseball.

(American General Bureau Reporter Shuta Yamamoto)

Determination to aim for further evolution

Shohei Ohtani

"If I try to do the same as last year, I won't get that kind of result. I want to aim for even better."

Major League Baseball was shaking this offseason.

Labor-management negotiations between the Major League Baseball Organization and the Players Association have become bogged down, and "lockout" has continued for more than three months since December last year, when all activities related to labor and management are stopped.

The lockout was finally over on March 10th, and the camp started in a hurry four days later, but the price of the lockout was that the number of open games was reduced to about half of the original number.

It was expected to be a difficult adjustment for the players, but on the second day of the camp, which started about a month later, Otani expressed his confidence and determination to aim for further evolution.

His body, which seems to be a little bigger than last season, shows the fulfillment of off-training.

Shohei Ohtani

"Physical has already come to this point in a better condition than last year. The weight hasn't changed much (102 kg), but the weight and physical strength mentioned (by weight) are increasing year by year. I'm trying to put it into play. "

We also talked to Angels director Maddon.

Last year, the commander who decided to use two swords at full rotation of Otani and realized that historic activity felt a certain change of Otani besides his physical appearance.

Maddon:

"The difference from last year is that I'm more comfortable. He's been confident in himself for a long time, but now he's more calm than before. Very confident, At the same time, he is a very humble person. Thanks to that humbleness, he manages everything well. "

5th year camp “I have to do more than usual”

The "comfort" that Director Maddon calls can be seen from the behavior and facial expressions of Otani during the camp.

Otani of this year laughs a lot anyway.

It is certain that the lack of physical anxiety leads to the fulfillment of the mind, but there are more scenes than before where we talk happily with our teammates without the help of an interpreter, Mr. Mizuhara.

Sometimes he was asked for advice directly, and in particular, he was seen talking about the pitching form with his gestures with pitcher Lorenzen, who joined this season and is entrusted with the starting rotation as a dual wield player next to Otani.

Otani himself, who is now in his 10th year as a professional player and 5th year in the Angels, is also feeling the change in his position.

Shohei Ohtani

"As the number of years I belong to becomes longer, I think that the position as a team will increase, and the degree of calculation will increase. On the other hand, more than usual. Of course, I have the feeling that I have to do it. "

Pitcher Lorenzen

"It's great to be able to play with the best players in the world. I hit two home runs on Shohei last year, but I'm playing on the same team. I'm also batting on pitching. There are many things I have to do, but I want to keep it as simple as possible, so I'd love to hear how he prepares. "

Both throws are going well Home runs are "56 paces"

Open game pitcher results

Pitched: 2 games 5 times 2/3 wins /

losses: 1 wins 0 losses

ERA: 4.76

Strikeouts: 9

In the open game, he pitched in two games as a pitcher and marked the fastest 99 miles (159.3 km).

He avoided pitching once after the opening pitcher was decided, but he said that he was in good physical condition for the opening game without getting tired, and the adjustment was smooth.

The changing ball, "between change-ups and splits," which he says he has been throwing since late last season, has also helped widen his pitching.

Compared to the same period last year, when he was aiming for a full-scale recovery from his right elbow injury, the degree of perfection is clearly higher.

Batter results in open

games Participation: 12 games

Batters: 25

Hits: 7

Batting average: .280

Home runs: 3

RBIs: 7 On

-base percentage: .471

As a batter, he hit three home runs with 34 at-bats, and his long hitting ability is still alive.

He had only a few at-bats in a game, so it wasn't very noticeable, but he's at a high pace of hitting 56 home runs with the same number of at-bats as last season.

What is even more striking about him is the high on-base percentage.

His ball identification is clearly more advanced than last season.

At the end of last season when he was fighting for a home run king, his experience of expressing that he "improved his skill as a batter" continued to be attacked at the end of the course when his opponent had no choice but to walk, is about to bear fruit. ..

Otani, who has become an even more difficult batter for his opponent, will be appointed as the number one batter this season.

Director Maddon

"If the opponent does not play against Shohei and walks on base, the second is Trout (winning MVP three times), and batters such as Rendon (2019 RBI) and Walsh (29 home runs last season) are behind. I'm going to leave the number one to last season's MVP unless there is a player who has a base rate of nearly 40% other than Shohei and who stirs the opponent. "

Otani, who has both long hitting ability and quick batting eye, has improved batting eye, and first stands at bat, followed by Trout and Rendon, who left the battlefield early due to injury last year.

One of the most powerful hits in the league is only a threat to the opponent.

Rule change boost Otani

In addition, changing the rules of the major leagues will also support Otani.

From this season, starting pitchers can also participate as designated hitters.

Until now, when Otani started pitching, he was in the batting order as a pitcher without using a designated hitter, but now he can continue to play as a batter even after getting off the mound.

So far, only Otani is likely to use this rule, and last year's dual wield activity, which attracted the attention of fans, moved the Major League Baseball.

Director Maddon will immediately apply this "Otani rule" in the opening game on April 7, and will appoint Otani as the first "starting pitcher and first designated hitter" in history.

" Rule

changes happen when the league reviews a play that they think is a minus, but I've never seen a single player make that change. Rickey Henderson (the most total in history). 1406 stolen base) did not increase the distance between the bases, and the fact that one person hit a home run too much does not raise the fence of the stadium. Player 1 We won't see any rule changes for people in the next 100 years. "

In addition, the National League has also adopted a designated hitter system from this season.

With this, Otani will be able to start as a designated hitter even in games held at the home of the National League team, which has often played in the national league.

With two rule changes, Otani is expected to increase by 40 to 50 at-bats this season.

That means you're more likely to hit a home run.

It's time to open, and to be active in making history

Otani was asked about the condition before the final open race, which was two days before the opening, and he responded.

Shohei Ohtani

"The number of games and at-bats is a little small, but if we think that they are all the same, we are fully prepared. I think it is in the best condition, including physical."

Looking at the fulfillment, I think that the "double-digit victory, double-digit home run" since Babe Ruth, which did not reach last year, the first Japanese player's home run king, and the MVP for the second consecutive year will be easily achieved. I can even think of it.

Even so, we can be legendary witnesses.

Satoshi Yamamoto ,

reporter in charge of sports, General Bureau of the United States Joined

in 2010 In charge of skiing, rugby, track and field, etc. in the sports news department

NHK Major League Baseball scheduled to be broadcast

Otani starting lineup MLB2022 "Astros vs. Angels" will be broadcast on NHK General TV from 10:05 am on the 8th.