Shohei Ohtani delivered one of the biggest seasons in MLB history in 2024.
From his first season as a member of the Los Angeles , he became the first player to hit more than 50 home runs and steal more than 50 bases in the season, becoming the first player to finish everything with the World Series trophy, making fans wonder if he’ll really get better than this.
According to historians of Japanese professional baseball leagues, it could be just.
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You don’t need top baseball insiders to know that Japan has created serious talent with diamonds over the past few seasons.
In legends like Hideo Nomo, Suziro Suzuki, Matsui Hideki, and other notable products from overseas, the waves of Japanese-born players like the recently born Oatani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shoshinobu Imanaga and the current Roki Sasaki have gained Diamond’s talent and fans.
Needless to say, Japan is the only country since its start in 2006 (3 wins in total) to win multiple tournaments with the classic 2023 World Baseball winner.
Nobby Ito, the official historian of the NPB, believes this is just the beginning of Japan’s domination over the sport of baseball, via athletic Fabian Aldaya.
“I think the next 50, 100 years will be much better,” Ito said. “I believe there are better players than Otani appears. …The question is, is this current Japanese baseball golden age? Of course, but it’s getting better and better.”
When it comes to pitching the ace caliber and slugging that leads the league, the current player on the Athletics minor league track could start running for Otani for his money.
18-year-old two-way star Shotaro Morii has skipped NPB entirely to join the Arizona Complex League. With 45 home runs in his high school career as a left-handed batsman, Mori touched the 95-mile as a right-handed pitcher.
It will probably take several more years before Morii matches Otani’s admiration, but for now fans can be basked in the glory of a talent from Japan.
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Photo credit: Darren Yamashita-Immagn Image
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