In Major League history, 10 different players have led their respective leagues in batting average, home runs, and RBIs, achieving the “Triple Crown.” This truly makes him one of the rarest single-season accomplishments in the history of the game.
For a while, the question has been asked what would happen if dual-wielding sensation Shohei Ohtani specialized in either hitting or pitching. Unfortunately, Ohtani had to undergo Tommy John surgery last season, giving the baseball world a chance to see the results of Ohtani’s focus on offense.
And the results were much better than anyone expected in Ohtani’s first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Otani currently leads baseball with 11 home runs and a batting average of .370. He is tied for sixth in baseball (third in the National League) with 27 RBIs. His numbers at this point in the season are truly amazing.
Shohei Ohtani is currently focusing all his efforts on his batting and is a strong candidate for the Triple Crown.
Batting average .370 (1st in MLB)
11 home runs (1st)
27 RBIs (T-6th place, Ozuna leads with 33 RBIs)
His slash line vs. RHP this year: .400/.475/1.310
Starting innings: .579/.619/1.263— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 7, 2024
However, he is familiar with the Triple Crown, although he has never won it. Over the past few years, Ohtani has been seen as one of the most likely candidates to win the award, but during his time with the Angels, he was often let down by his teammates and had fewer RBI chances than he did with the Dodgers. .
The Japanese superstar got off to a great start in May, hitting in all of his first four matches. He went 10-for-15 with four home runs and eight RBIs earlier this month. If they have the ability to acquire and maintain this enthusiasm, winning the Triple Crown is no wonder.
If Ohtani can continue toward this feat, he would become the first player since Miguel Cabrera in 2012 to lead the American League in batting average, home runs and RBIs. Obviously, it’s too early to set expectations or goals on this feat, but that’s for sure. Definitely something to keep an eye on.
