Shohei Ohtani News: Dodgers Star Says Clinching Division Title is ‘The Reason Why I’m Here’
It wasn’t a direct slight to the Angels, the team that employed Shohei Ohtani for his first six seasons in Major League Baseball, but the Dodgers’ star sure had to wait to achieve a goal Thursday.
Ohtani made it clear in the moments after the Dodgers’ 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres clinched the National League West title exactly why he signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers last December.
Winning the division, Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton, “is the reason why I’m here.”
Ohtani’s dream of winning a division title — and ultimately a World Series — predated even the rookie contract he signed with the Angels in Dec. 2017.
“This is something that I know Shohei’s dreamed about ever since he was a young kid,” manager Dave Roberts said of Ohtani. “Now he’s living it, right now in real time. He’s put on a show in the last couple weeks. What a year he’s having. We’re going to ride that horse, that thoroughbred to the championship.”
The Dodgers’ postgame celebration had just begun when Ohtani scooped up his dog, Decoy, on the field. He was joined by his wife Mamiko, and the two posed for photos as the crowd cheered.
Ohtani’s postgame revelry was just beginning.
Back in the clubhouse, Ohtani was among the few brave souls to enjoy the champagne-soaked clubhouse atmosphere without goggles on.
Speaking to reporters afterward through interpreter Will Ireton, Ohtani said “It stung a little bit in my eyes but hopefully it wouldn’t cause too much damage.”
In addition to recording the first 50-homer, 50-steal season in Major League Baseball history when the Dodgers clinched a postseason berth Sept. 19 in Miami, Ohtani had a huge hit in the division title-clinching game Thursday.
Batting in the seventh inning with the Dodgers and the Padres tied 2-2, Ohtani singled on a ground ball to right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., scoring Enrique Hernández with the go-ahead run. Ohtani advanced to second on a throwing error by Tatis.
That set the stage for Ohtani to score when the Dodgers’ next batter, Mookie Betts, singled on a line drive to right field. Andy Pages’ home run in the eighth inning tacked on two more runs for good measure in the Dodgers’ 7-2 victory.
The Dodgers’ 11th division title in the last 12 years was one Ohtani had been looking forward to all year long.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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