Shōhei Ohtani, Born 1994: 24 HRs, 74 RBIs, and 88 Games Played—What’s Next?

L.A. Dodgers Ohtani resumed current flow. He is the No. 1 home run in the National League. AP Yonhap News

Shohei Ohtani (L.A. Dodgers) and Seiya Suzuki (Chicago Cubs) are the same age who were born in 1994. Ohtani was born on July 5, about a month earlier than Suzuki. He graduated from high school side by side and made his Japanese professional baseball debut through the 2013 rookie draft. Ohtani confirmed the possibility of ‘diryu’ for five years with the Nippon-Ham Fighters and moved on to the Major League. It started with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018 and changed major league history. Suzuki, who played as a center hitter for the Hiroshima Carp, flew to the bigger stage in 2022, four years later than Ohtani. In his first year with the Chicago Cubs, he was delayed by posting ‘104 hits – 14 homers – 46 RBIs’.

Ohtani and Suzuki were selected as Japanese representatives for WBC side by side in 2023. Suzuki injured his left side ahead of the national team’s call-up training and failed to play. Ohtani hung his Suzuki uniform in the dugout of the Japanese national team. Suzuki was also with the national team in his heart. Suzuki is the fourth hitter who led the team to the victory in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Ohtani, Suzuki and his classmates shake the Major League this season. Ohtani, who resumes ‘Idolryu’, runs toward his fourth MVP. The National League ranks first in the category by hitting ’30 home runs’ before the first half. He hit the first batter with a score of ’86’. He is the top scorer overall.

Four years in the major leagues. Fast forward to a career high. Suzuki hit a home run ’24’ against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field in Chicago on the 5th (Korea time). No. 3-He hit a one-run homer to left in the first inning as a designated hitter. He hit a 148km/h sinker that dug into his body at the full count. 타구

Speed 168km – distance 126m. He hit his 23rd against the Cleveland Guardians on the 2nd and activated his cannon in three games. In the last six games, he has had seven hits and seven RBIs, including three homers.

The opposing pitcher is Miles Micallus, which Japanese fans know well. He is a right-hander who won 31 games as the main pitcher of the Yomiuri Giants from 2015 to 2017.

Suzuki set a new milestone with his home run on the 5th. It exceeded the most home runs for Japanese right-handed hitters. Every time he hits a home run, he breaks his major league record in a season. He started with 14 home runs in 2022, hitting 20 home runs in 2023 and 21 home runs in 2024. Home runs have increased every year, but this year it is soaring.

As of the 5th, when the team played 88 games, it recorded ’24 home runs-74 RBIs’. His most RBIs in a season exceeded 73 RBIs last year. He ranks first in RBIs in both leagues and fourth in home runs in the National League.

The two, who started their professional careers in Japan in the same year, are looking at the major league home run and RBI king. If Suzuki goes all the way to 162 games at his current pace, he will have 44.2 homers and 136.2 RBIs.

Suzuki’s home run in the first inning became a catalyst. The Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago Cubs 11-3 with a run of 8 home runs. He set the club’s record for most home runs and won four consecutive games. No. 6-1 first baseman Michael Bush hit three home runs in his 15th and 17th. St. Louis starter Michaelus allowed eight runs through the sixth inning.