Shohei Ohtani not only had a historic career, he had a particularly historic season, becoming the first player to steal at least 50 bases and hit at least 50 home runs in the same year.
Currently leading the Dodgers to a World Series appearance against the New York Yankees, he spoke with FOX Sports’ Kevin Burkhardt about what has been a turbulent year for the Japanese star.
After his rise to stardom with the Angels, Ohtani was asked why he wanted to play for the Dodgers as a free agent.
“The Dodgers tradition and team atmosphere was special,” he said. “It’s an honor to play for this team this year.”
[Related: Full coverage of the World Series]
Burkhardt touched on a number of other topics with Ohtani.
— What is he looking at? The answer is “Breaking Bad.”
— Does he feel pressure to become an international icon? Answer: “For me, it’s more of a blessing than a pressure. My fans tell me they came all the way from Japan to see me. That’s a real blessing, so I want to give them my best.”
–What makes Yankees star Aaron Judge stand out? Answer: “It’s great to see such a great player on a great team like the Yankees. It’s really great to see his great performances every year.”
–What does winning the World Series mean to you? Answer: “I came to the United States just to win the World Series. I had a chance to see the World Series trophy and I was trying not to touch it. I was thinking of touching it after we won. .”
Watch the full interview here:
Shohei Otani “It’s an honor to play for this team this year”
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