close
close

Shohei Ohtani wants “nine more” after the Dodgers win the World Series


Shohei Ohtani wants “nine more” after the Dodgers win the World Series

After six years of playoff-less baseball, Shohei Ohtani only needed a quick trip down Interstate 5 to win a World Series.

He's already hungry for more.

Ohtani, who left the Angels for a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, capped his first season in Los Angeles with a championship despite suffering a partially dislocated shoulder in the final three games and he plans to finish playing every year for the remainder of his contract just like that.

Shohei Ohtani is doused with Budweiser by his Dodgers teammates after winning the World Series on October 30, 2024. AP

“Nine more, nine more!” According to the Los Angeles Times, Ohtani yelled at Dodgers baseball president Andrew Friedman while spraying champagne in his face on Wednesday night after the Dodgers beat the Yankees in five games.

“He won a championship his first year,” Friedman later said, according to The Athletic. “He says, ‘That’s easy. We'll just repeat it nine more times.'”

Yankees fans would settle for one, as their World Series drought now stretches to 15 years after a disastrous Game 5 loss in the Bronx in which the Bombers blew a 5-0 lead with an embarrassing defensive performance .

Shohei Ohtani holds the championship trophy after the Dodgers won the World Series on October 30, 2024. John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock

Ohtani didn't have to worry about defense in 2024, as he was only a DH while recovering from elbow surgery and will return to pitching next season.

But after beginning his first year in Dodger Blue with the surprise revelation that he had married his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, he made history by becoming the first player ever to record a 50-50 season, with 54 home runs, 59 steals and 130 set career-high RBIs, 134 runs, 197 hits, a .310 average and 411 total bases.

He's a contender for his third MVP award in five years.

The 30-year-old also performed well in the first two rounds of the playoffs against the Padres and Mets, hitting .286 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.

Shohei Ohtani (r.) hugs Dodgers teammate Kiké Hernández after winning the World Series on October 30, 2024. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Ohtani was just 2 for 19 in the World Series and had zero RBIs, going 1 for 11 after injuring his shoulder in Game 2.

But when it comes to championships, he's 1-1 with the Dodgers.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *