Dusty Baker says Shohei Ohtani has ‘one of the cleanest livers around’ when praising his work ethic

It is no secret that Shohei Ohtani is a unicorn.

Final season, Ohtani turned the first person in MLB history to qualify for each the batting and ERA titles – this season, he is pitching to a 3.50 ERA whereas hitting .303 with an MLB-leading 33 dwelling runs and 1.046 OPS.

There hasn’t been anybody like Ohtani ever within the sport – no, not even Babe Ruth did this. So, how does he do it?

Effectively, even a few of the smartest minds the sport has ever seen do not have a clue.

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Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels seems to be on throughout Gatorade All-Star Exercise Day at T-Cellular Park on July 10, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)

Ohtani struggled in opposition to Dusty Baker’s Houston Astros on Friday night time, leaving a third-consecutive begin early with an ongoing blister. However one tough begin – 5 innings of four-run ball – should not take away from what the 2021 MVP (and frontrunner to win this 12 months) has achieved all through his profession.

“The best power he has is as a ballplayer, he doesn’t have any weaknesses,” Baker instructed The Associated Press. “I don’t know one other man like him. He have to be in super, super form to pitch and hit day-after-day.”

Sure, Ohtani is solely a freak athlete. His 6’4″, 210-pound body is likely one of the sport’s finest hitters, pitchers, and baserunners. Do not ask Baker the way it’s occurred, however he has a sense Ohtani could not get out that a lot.

“I’m attempting to determine, when does he prepare, and when does he run to get his endurance? I’m certain he does. He have to be an especially devoted man,” he added.

“:He must be in all probability one of many cleanest livers round, as a result of he’s working day-after-day on one thing. I love him.”

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani talks to members of the Chicago White Sox as they sit of their dugout after hitting a single in the course of the eighth inning of a baseball sport Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif.  (AP Picture/Mark J. Terrill)

TREVOR BAUER NAMED ALL-STAR IN JAPAN, NAMED LEAGUE’S MVP FOR JUNE

The 29-year-old has greater than lived as much as expectations since he joined the most important leagues in 2018. Dubbed the “Japanese Babe Ruth” when he arrived, he was named the American League Rookie of the 12 months with a .285 common and .925 OPS whereas pitching to a 3.31 ERA and hanging out 11 batters per 9 innings. He turned the primary participant in MLB historical past to hit a minimum of 20 dwelling runs and strike out a minimum of 60 batters in the identical season.

He was the unanimous AL MVP in 2021 with 46 homers — the third most in baseball — and 100 RBIs with a .965 OPS. He additionally recorded a 3.18 ERA, which was the eighth-best mark within the AL amongst pitchers with a minimum of 130 innings thrown.

Final 12 months, his 2.33 ERA was the sixth-best in baseball, whereas his .875 OPS was the Tenth-highest within the majors, proving that the earlier 12 months was no fluke. If it weren’t for Aaron Judge‘s race for a Triple Crown whereas tying Roger Maris for probably the most dwelling runs in a single season by an American League participant, Ohtani would have received the MVP once more.

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting a two-run dwelling run within the eighth inning in a baseball sport in opposition to the Texas Rangers, Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Picture/Richard W. Rodriguez)

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With the commerce deadline approaching later this month, and Ohtani’s Los Angeles Angels more likely to miss out on the postseason for the ninth straight season, his crew actually has a choice to make, as they danger shedding perhaps probably the most gifted participant ever for nothing in free company. 

On the identical time, buying and selling away such a participant looks like it may simply by no means make sense.