I got the sense during Spring Training that Shohei, this past season only really focusing as an offensive player, he had more of an interest and willingness to push the limits some on the base stealing. Just tried to develop a rapport with him and came to find out this guy is just a baseball rat. He enjoyed watching video. I think I would just try to do my best to unearth some things for him, bring it to light, and it felt like a partnership as that season progressed.
He put in a lot of legwork and I'll say this guy helped me become a far better coach than I know I helped Shohei become a better player. I enjoyed the time watching video, listening to his perspective as a pitcher and the unique side of looking at how guys' bodies moves, ticks, tells to alert you to a type of delivery or pickoff move. So he was a really fun partner last season and he deserves all the credit for the year he had.
Ohtani was limited to being an offensive player in 2024 after undergoing right elbow surgery last year but still turned in one of the most impressive individual seasons in MLB history.
Ohtani's 59 stolen bases was behind only the Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz, who swiped 67 bags during the 2024 season. However, Ohtani was thrown out only four times in comparison to De La Cruz's 16.
Collection
[
|
...
]