Shohei Ohtani – Image Credit: Imagn
The debate around Shohei Ohtani’s influence on MLB has reached an epic point, especially after the phenomenal 2024 season he had with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Apparently, with Ohtani continuing to impress and excel in the sport, analysts are in constant discussions over his possible induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
One of the recent episodes of JM Baseball podcast featured views from their analyst Chris Rose and former Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who engaged in discussion about Ohtani’s contribution to the sport.
“This is now his third MVP award, he has to play another three full seasons to qualify for a spot in Cooperstown. Is there any question he’s getting into Cooperstown?” inquired Rose.
“The impact that Shohei has had on the game as well, I think needs to be talked about in part of his legacy. But the overall numbers like, yeah, he hasn’t, he doesn’t have the counting stats 225 homers, you know. The benchmark’s 500 homers and you could talk about all those counting stats,” said Plouffe.
Trevor Plouffe had a traditional career himself. In 830 games, he has had 2933 at-bats, thus having a batting average of .242. Plouffe has hit 106 home runs while making 379 RBIs.
With 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, Shohei Ohtani made his way into the history books in 2024, becoming the first MLB player to achieve this feat in one season.
Plouffe said that the Japanese’s achievements in the sport made him a unanimous Hall of Famer. Rose agreed with the 38-year-old, claiming that very few players in history have had the kind of influence Ohtani has had.
“But if you are talking about his career ending in three years, I think the three MVP’s and the, you know, the non – steroid part of his tenure, I think he’s going to be a unanimous hall of famer, I do,” added Plouffe.
“That doesn’t mean that everybody who plays baseball turns into a famous person needs to be in Cooperstown. But when they have changed the history of the sport, when we are talking one – of – one. How many guys have had a bigger influence on the sport than Shohei Ohtani? I think it’s a very, very small number,” concluded Rose.
Ohtani accumulated 3,119 at-bats as a hitter in 860 games, with a batting average of .282, 225 home runs, 567 RBIs, and 145 stolen bases. The OBP stands at .371, slugging percentage at .575, with a total OPS of .945.
On the mound, Shohei Ohtani has pitched in 86 games, during which he won 38 while losing 19, gave an ERA of 3.01, worked for about 481.2 innings and secured 608 strikeouts with a WHIP of 1.08.
A look at Shohei Ohtani’s impressive 2024 season
Shohei Ohtani – Image via Getty
A lot of people have begun equating Ohtani with the greatest players to have ever played the game e. g. Babe Ruth, and some even go on to ask whether or not he will be one among the most influential baseball legends like Hank Aaron, Ted Williams etc.
Ohtani’s performance in the 2024 season was impressive. He ended the season with 54 home runs, 59 stolen bases, and 130 RBIs, maintaining an average of .310 showed, while scoring 134 runs.
Ohtani finished his historic season with a historic performance against the Miami Marlins, on September 19, 2024, while hitting three home runs, stealing two bases, and driving in ten RBIs—all in a single game.
On Thursday, Ohtani was announced as the unanimous NL MVP, making him the first player to achieve this distinction multiple times. He joins Frank Robinson as one of only two players to win MVP awards in both leagues (American and National).
