{"id":2756,"date":"2026-05-06T12:45:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T17:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seantcannon.com\/?p=2756"},"modified":"2026-05-06T12:45:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T17:45:42","slug":"shohei-ohtani-on-munetaka-murakami-tied-for-mlb-lead-with-14-hr-as-long-as-its-not-against-the-dodgers-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatshoheireallysaid.com\/?p=2756","title":{"rendered":"Shohei Ohtani on Munetaka Murakami, tied for MLB lead with 14 HR: \u201cAs long as it\u2019s not against the Dodgers\u2026\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the game, Ohtani spoke to reporters following his strong outing\u20147 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, and 8 strikeouts\u2014despite taking the loss due to a lack of run support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He was also asked about the hot start of White Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami (26), who, as of May 6, is tied with Yankees star Aaron Judge for the MLB lead with 14 home runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ohtani responded:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve heard he\u2019s been hitting well, but I haven\u2019t really been watching other games, so I\u2019m not exactly sure how well. Still, it\u2019s great that he\u2019s in good form.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He then added with a smile:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI hope all the Japanese players do well\u2014especially as long as it\u2019s not when they\u2019re playing against the Dodgers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was also announced the previous day that Ohtani won the March\/April Pitcher of the Month award\u2014his first time receiving the honor as a pitcher. He reacted calmly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI kind of realized it when I was told\u2014just \u2018thank you,\u2019 really. It\u2019s still early in the season, so I don\u2019t want to get too excited and just want to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It remains to be seen whether Shohei Ohtani will regain his usual place among the home run leaders, or if 2026 becomes another pitching-forward season\u2014similar to 2022, when he narrowly lost the MVP to Aaron Judge during Judge\u2019s 62-homer campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2022, Ohtani still produced at a high level offensively, slashing .273\/.356\/.519 with a .875 OPS, 34 home runs, 72 walks, a 144 OPS+, and 3.4 rWAR as a hitter. On the mound, however, he was dominant: 15\u20139 with a 2.33 ERA, a 172 ERA+, and 6.3 rWAR. While his offensive output dipped compared to surrounding seasons\u201446 home runs and a 157 OPS+ in his first 2021 AL MVP year, and 44 home runs with a 185 OPS+ in second 2023 AL MVP year\u2014his elite pitching more than compensated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That pattern has held throughout his peak years. In 2021, he posted a 9\u20132 record with a 141 ERA+ (4.1 fWAR), and in 2023 he went 10\u20135 with a 142 ERA+, continuing to provide frontline production on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So far in 2026, Ohtani\u2019s offensive pace\u2014an OPS+ of 133\u2014would rank among the lower marks of his career (outside of the shortened 2020 season and his 2019 campaign). But when his bat takes even a slight step back, his arm has historically filled the gap\u2014and then some. This year is no exception, with an eye-popping 416 ERA+ underscoring just how dominant he has been on the mound.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>After the game, Ohtani spoke to reporters following his strong outing\u20147 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, and 8 strikeouts\u2014despite taking the loss due to a <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/whatshoheireallysaid.com\/?p=2756\" title=\"Shohei Ohtani on Munetaka Murakami, tied for MLB lead with 14 HR: \u201cAs long as it\u2019s not against the Dodgers\u2026\u201d\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2763,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[234,240],"tags":[236,3,238,4],"class_list":["post-2756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-munetaka-murakami","category-shohei-ohtani","tag-interview","tag-mlb","tag-player-quotes","tag-shohei-ohtani"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - 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