Los Angeles Angels dual-threat Shohei Ohtani has captivated audiences of all ages in the last year, not only because of his play, but also because of humble demeanor and charm.
In 2021, he was an absolute star, but he remains the same youthful spirit who finds joy in the little things.
He is described as a simple guy who likes manga and baseball: he is not one to humiliate rivals or show off as an arrogant person.
When he was presented with the design of the MLB The Show 2022 cover, it was incredibly wholesome.
Shohei Ohtani couldn't believe it when he saw himself on the cover of MLB The Show.
Watch this wholesome reaction. 🥺
🎥 @emmdotfriskpic.twitter.com/VfFtvFf5AN
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 10, 2022
He was genuinely impressed by the design (which portrays him as a dual-threat and has flames to make it more visually attractive) and said he liked it a lot.
You could see his face lighting up when he first saw it and described it as “super cool.”
He is, after all, a simple guy.
But at the plate and on the mound, he is a real gamer.
A Real Two-Way Star
He is fresh off putting up historic numbers that would make Babe Ruth proud.
His Angels were eliminated from playoff contention in September, but it was certainly not because of Ohtani.
As a pitcher, Ohtani was the unquestioned ace of the Angels.
He finished the year with a 9-2 record and a rock-solid 3.18 ERA.
He struck out 156 hitters in 130.1 innings, mainly because of a fastball that can hit 100 mph and a truly disgusting splitter.
108 PITCHES. SHOHEI OHTANI WITH A NASTY SPLITTER FOR THE STRIKEOUT TO END THE 8TH. INCREDIBLE
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) September 19, 2021
In the batter’s box, he was even better, with a .257/.372/.592 line, 46 home runs, 103 runs, 100 RBI, and 26 stolen bases.
He accumulated 5.1 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) as a hitter, and 3.0 as a pitcher.
He is, therefore, a 8.1-WAR player capable of being an elite hitter and pitcher while occupying just one roster spot.
Not surprisingly, he was the unanimous MVP of the American League in 2021 despite a stellar season from Toronto Blue Jays’ first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Ohtani had been teasing with impressive seasons before, but health got in the way multiple times.
Now, we can all say with confidence that Ohtani became the game’s biggest star and the face of baseball thanks to his 2021 performance.
The Game’s Biggest Ambassador Right Now
He doesn’t have to be fluent in English to be an ambassador of the game.
He certainly doesn’t have to American, either.
Fans love him and pay to see him pitch and hit.
He puts people in seats and in front of the TV.
Off the field, he is a simple, regular guy.
When he puts on his uniform, though, he is a truly competitive beast.
The fact he was chosen as the cover of such a popular game like MLB The Show speaks for itself.
He is one of the stars that can help bring back people into the stadiums and keep ratings up once baseball returns from a long lockout, whenever that happens.
Ohtani is thrilled about his stardom, as he showed on the video in which he is shown the design of the cover.
But baseball fans are even more thrilled to watch him play every day.
NEXT: MLB World Reacts To Shohei Ohtani Video Game News
