For Japanese Americans in OC, Shohei Ohtani is Already Their MVP
Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani put the finishing touches on a historic season for the ages during his team’s final home game right where he fashioned its peerless prowess — on the mound and at the plate.
The two-way phenom notched 10 strikeouts against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday and lowered his ERA to 3.18 through 23 starts; as a batter, Ohtani added a single to complement an offensive campaign powered by 45 home runs.
Angel fans serenaded Ohtani with chants of “M-V-P” to cap off a season many will passionately argue as deserving of the American League’s top honor.
For Japanese Americans in Orange County, Ohtani’s transcendent talents, which have drawn comparisons to Babe Ruth, are more than just MVP-worthy; they’re a point of pride.
Read more on my latest TimesOC feature: