Shohei Ohtani and the future of the designated hitter in MLB

The Japanese has become the benchmark for what should be the offensive position in the future of the Major Leagues

In 1973, as a way to invigorate baseball, which was going through an era dominated by pitchers, MLB He introduced a figure that would forever change the way the designated hitter would be played. Since then, a significant number of leagues around the world have decided to incorporate the figure for tailoring into their line-ups.

There is no doubt that the position has brought many positive points with it. Extend the careers of veteran players who are still productive, keep good hitters in the lineup, even if their defense is not the most adequate and increase, in general terms, the offensive performance of teams, which is proven when we see that, of cumulatively, the sets of the American league have better statistics with the bat than those of the National League.

Great figures have been able to make a career thanks to the position of designated hitter. Edgar Martinez (man under whom he was named the award for the best nominee of the year in MLB) and David ortiz are the two most prominent figures who have spent most of their careers as appointees, but players like Harold baines, Paul molitor, Frank thomas, Edwin Encarnacion and Nelson Cruz, they have been very successful playing the position.

Today, we have one of the most productive figures in MLB spending most of his time as a designee. The Japanese star Shohei ohtani from Los Angeles Angels, who is not only a power hitter and current home run leader in MLB, but it is a very effective launcher.

Ohtani It is the missing piece of the designated hitter position to win followers among the most romantics in baseball, who understand that pitchers must hit. Japanese is the key to the future in that sense and has come at a time where it is fervently debated whether the figure should be universalized in MLB.

With 40 home runs, a .270 batting average and a 1.001 OPS, Ohtani It shows he’s a great hitter, but it also points to the designated hitter being more than just someone who stops to take at-bats. Position players could be transformed into pitchers more often and maintaining the dual focus, so the next big dual star (pitcher-hitter) shouldn’t be that far away.

Sho-time”Shows us where efforts should go for the future of the designated hitter in the Big leagues and its practically inevitable expansion.

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