Remarkably, Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani won an AL MVP Award before hitting a Grand Slam — but now, he’s done both in his illustrious career.
Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani has done everything within his power to dominate on the field, but some things are out of his hands — like how many players are on base when he drives a ball into the stands.
Fortunately for Ohtani, the 2021 AL MVP Award winner was treated to a historic career-first versus the Tampa Bay Rays: his first-ever Grand Slam.
Shotime has been playing professional baseball since 2017, yet this was the first time he’s accomplished this particular feat.
The four runs as a result of that Grand Slam gave the Angels a grand total of 11 points, making them the overpowering victor in a 11-3 ballgame.
Angels star Shohei Ohtani stuns with a career-first Grand Slam
Ohtani’s Grand Slam only adds to the many accolades the 27-year-old two-way player garnered in his historic 2021 season.
Before Ohtani was named the 2021 AL MVP, he became the first player in MLB history to be named a two-way All-Star. The unprecedented feat was so significant that MLB commissioner Robert Manfred bestowed the exalted Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award upon Ohtani. It marked the first time that Manfred has selected a recipient since becoming MLB commissioner in 2015.
The Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award proves that Ohtani changed the game with his incomparable play on both sides, but the awards didn’t stop there. In addition to becoming the first-ever two-way All-Star, Ohtani made All-MLB First Team, All-MLB Second Team, earned a Silver Slugger Award, and received the Edgar Martínez Award. Ohtani also led the American League in triples in 2021.
Funnily enough, Ohtani led the AL in triples last season, but he had yet to record his first career Grand Slam. This season, another box has been checked for the Angels hitter who is rapidly changing the game.