Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani is having one of the best seasons in baseball history.
From his elite offensive production to his performance on the mound, there’s no question that the 27-year-old’s 2021 campaign will go down as one of the greatest ever.
But lately, Ohtani has cooled off a little bit.
That’s perfectly understandable—as a two-way guy, he essentially plays two seasons’ worth of baseball in one campaign.
Fatigue is bound to happen.
Let’s hope that he’s able to finish the year on a high note.
He’s Batting Just .202 In The Month Of August
August hasn’t been a great month for Ohtani offensively.
He entered the month with a whopping 1.051 OPS, but that number has dwindled.
He’s slashing just .202/.339/.413 over 28 games in August, giving him a .752 OPS over the span.
Over his last nine games, his production has taken an even bigger hit, as he’s batting just .156 with a .651 OPS.
His overall numbers for the year have dipped slightly.
He’s now batting .264 with a .989 OPS.
But let’s keep something in mind: Cold stretches happen to everyone.
It’s virtually impossible for a player to make it through a 162-game slate without running into a slump at some point.
Hopefully, Ohtani will flip a switch in September.
Ohtani sent this one to outer space! 💥🌌
(📽️: @BallySportWest)pic.twitter.com/ZmYTjLSgC3
— theScore (@theScore) August 31, 2021
He’s sitting on 42 home runs, and a lot of fans want to see him reach 50.
He Got Roughed Up By The Lowly Baltimore Orioles In His Last Start
Ohtani’s recent woes haven’t been limited to his offensive production.
He also got roughed up on the mound in his most recent start.
It was a matchup with the lowly Baltimore Orioles, and many folks expected Ohtani to shove.
Instead, he lasted just five innings, allowing five hits, four runs, and three home runs.
He escaped with a no-decision, but the Angels ultimately lost the game by a score of 10-6.
It snapped a 19-game losing streak for Baltimore, one of the longest in MLB history.
Needless to say, it was surprising that Ohtani struggled against an inferior opponent.
Unfortunately, we are going to wait longer than usual to see the righty pitch again.
He was hit by a pitch during an at-bat against the San Diego Padres, and the Angels are going to skip his turn in the rotation at least once while he recovers.
The hope is that he will be able to bounce back on the mound and end his historic 2021 season with a bang.
Even If Ohtani Is Running Out Of Gas, His 2021 Season Can’t Be Diminished
Hypothetically, Ohtani could probably sit out for the remainder of the season and still win the American League MVP award (unless Vladimir Guerrero Jr. were to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to an unlikely playoff berth).
There is truly a major gap between Ohtani and everyone else.
Let’s take a minute to appreciate his season.
He has a 7.9 WAR, which leads MLB.
Offensively, he leads the league in slugging (.626), home runs (42), and intentional walks (10).
On the mound, he has a 3.00 ERA, 3.42 FIP, and 1.06 WHIP in 19 starts.
He was the starting pitcher for the American League in the All-Star Game, and he also batted leadoff.
And let’s not forget that he put on a show in the Home Run Derby.
Here’s Shohei Ohtani literally almost hitting a baseball out of Coors Field during Home Run Derby batting practice. pic.twitter.com/5vfjwHLqAY
— Brent Maguire (@bmags94) July 12, 2021
We probably won’t see a season like this ever again…until he does it all over next year.
What a talent.
NEXT: Does It Make Sense For Mike Trout To Return In 2021?