Ohtani Shohei (30, Los Angeles Dodgers) expressed his joy at reaching the World Series for the first time in his career, saying, “I really feel like we finally arrived. I finally arrived at this stage.” The Dodgers secured their spot in the World Series by defeating the New York Mets 10-5 in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) on Monday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, winning the series 4-2. Ohtani enjoyed his third champagne shower.
Having already celebrated winning the National League West title with two champagne showers earlier in the season, the Dodgers players once again doused each other in champagne to mark their World Series appearance. In interviews with MLB.com and Japan’s Daily Sports, Ohtani mentioned, “You can never have too many champagne showers,” He hopes to enjoy one more to cap off 2024 with a World Series win.
Ohtani, who joined Major League Baseball in 2018 with the Los Angeles Angels, hadn’t reached the postseason until last year. This year, after signing a massive 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, he became the first player in MLB history to record both 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season, finishing with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. His stellar regular-season performance included a .310 batting average, 130 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.036, solidifying his status as one of the league’s best players.
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Ohtani continued his outstanding performance in the postseason. In the Division Series and Championship Series, he recorded 12 hits in 42 at-bats (.286 average), 3 home runs, 10 RBIs, and an OPS of .934, stepping up as a clutch player with 6 hits in 9 at-bats (.667) with runners in scoring position. Ohtani stated, “It’s the place that I’ve dreamt of playing all my life,” and added, “and to be able to finally come to this stage and be able to play and hopefully win it is my next goal.”
The Dodgers will now face the New York Yankees in a best-of-seven World Series starting on October 26. This marks the first World Series meeting between the Dodgers and Yankees in 43 years, their last matchup occurring in 1981. Fans eagerly anticipate the showdown, featuring a historic matchup between two of the league’s biggest stars: Ohtani and Aaron Judge, who will also be making his first World Series appearance. Judge led MLB with 58 home runs this season.
MLB.com noted that this is the first time two teams with a player who hit 50 or more home runs will meet in the World Series. Ohtani commented that the Yankees are an outstanding team with players like Judge and Juan Soto, and aside from those two, they have an incredibly strong lineup. He added that the Dodgers will unite as one to take on the Yankees.
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