Shohei Ohtani got his first walk-off hit for the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking his first game-ending hit in the majors in almost four years.
His new teammates and fans cheered for him on Sunday at Chavez Ravine, excited to witness more incredible performances from the superstar player who seems to be improving even more in Dodger Blue.
Ohtani hit a low fastball to right field with two outs in the 10th inning, bringing Jason Heyward home and sealing the Dodgers’ 3-2 win over Cincinnati. Two teammates sprayed Ohtani with water while the crowd of 52,656 cheered for the latest accomplishment by the $700 million slugger.
“We always say he’s the best player in the world, and you see it,” Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages said. This clutch hit off Alexis Díaz wrapped up an incredibly eventful week for Ohtani.
Despite potential off-field distractions, such as his former interpreter being charged with bank and tax fraud for allegedly stealing millions from Ohtani to support his gambling habit, Ohtani continues to perform well on the field for Los Angeles.
“I was looking to just put the ball in play, so I’m glad it worked out well,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “We lost the first game of the series, so we really wanted to finish strong.”
The two-time unanimous AL MVP is having his best start to a major league career, supported by the Dodgers’ strong lineup and pitching staff.
With two hits on Sunday, he has a batting average of .393 in May, along with six homers and 14 RBIs. He’s also making more hard contact than ever before and striking out less frequently than in his major league career.
This season, Ohtani is only playing as a designated hitter while his pitching armrests and heals. He currently leads the majors in batting average, OPS, total bases, and hits.
