LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is on the verge of achieving his childhood dream: playing in meaningful games. There’s no stage bigger than the MLB playoffs.
Yet, the Japanese superstar is far from nervous.
“The excitement outweighs any nerves I could possibly feel,” Ohtani said through an interpreter on Friday. He’s set to make his postseason debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will face off against their division rivals, the San Diego Padres, in the National League Division Series on Saturday. Ohtani previously spent six years with the Los Angeles Angels, a period marked by no winning seasons or playoff appearances.
Last year, Ohtani struck out former Angels teammate Mike Trout to secure a World Baseball Classic title for Japan. A two-way sensation in both Japan and MLB, fans from both countries are eager to see what new feats the record-setting star can accomplish this October.
“It’s exciting for us as fans because this is uncharted territory for him,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “If there’s anyone who can handle the pressure, it’s Shohei.”
Ohtani has already proven his ability to change a game with his power, speed, and skill. He’s just as dangerous drawing a walk and stealing a base (he stole 59 this season) as he is smashing a home run (54) or scoring from first base.