Up until recently, Shohei Ohtani was a man of few words. Rightfully so. The numbers speak for themselves.
Things changed when he started sporting Los Angeles Dodgers garb. Manager Dave Roberts says many factors contribute to this.
When asked about the increased emotions the two-way player has shown (if the uptick is due to winning and realizing he’s “the best player on the planet), Roberts listed reasons behind it.
“I think that winning certainly helps,” Roberts said Sunday ahead of Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. “I think he does realize he’s the best player on the planet. I do think he’s become over the course of the season I think who he intrinsically is.
“He’s very isolated, very quiet, stays to himself — private, but I do think that naturally, he’s a goofy person, he’s fun-loving, he’s a crazy good competitor, and so I think that when he sees people having fun, enjoying themselves in moments, I think we’ve seen more of that over the course of this season.”
Ohtani spent six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels before his Dodgers tenure. While his personal accolades included an AL Rookie of the Year Award, three All-Star selections, and an MVP, the team never finished above third in the American League West.
Things are obviously different now that he’s signed a 10-year, $700 million contract.
“I think that’s a good thing for him because it’s honest, and I think that’s a good thing for our players to see that, ‘Man, this guy’s not just a robot; he’s like a real person with real emotions,” Roberts added. “So I think this is good for everybody.”
[MLB.com]