Angels News: Japan's NHK Broadcast Pulls Coverage with Shohei Ohtani Done
With Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani out for the remainder of the season, NHK is stopping their daily broadcasts of games in Japan. The Japanese broadcast company followed every move that Ohtani made, but with him gone, they no longer have a need for the Halos games.
His popularity in his home country of Japan allowed them to showcase every Angels game while following him throughout. It has been a cool way to help broaden the game of baseball, while also making sure that fans back home could watch Ohtani perform.
While he is out for the season, he is the frontrunner for the American League MVP award after an incredible season. He finished the year at the plate with a batting average of .304 with 44 home runs and 95 runs batted in.
It was one of the better seasons hitting-wise that we have seen in a long time, and it’s unfortunate that it was cut short due to injury. But he also excelled on the mound, posting an ERA of 3.14 and a record of 10-5. Ohtani also struck out 167 batters over 132 innings of work this season.
His two-way abilities have made him the biggest show in baseball, and he remains one of the best to ever play the game. Unfortunately, injuries have taken their toll, and he should have a procedure to repair his torn UCL very soon.
Ohtani is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season, and the fight for his services will be very competitive. Teams will be lining up for the chance to land him, although only a few teams realistically will have a shot due to the financial compensation that he will earn.
Ohtani will also be looking for a place where he can win consistently, and it is being reported that he will prioritize that over everything else. He wants to win at the highest level and hasn’t yet done so since joining the major leagues.
With his procedure, he likely won’t pitch at all in 2024, but he should be ready to hit for whatever team he signs with. This will play a factor in his future contract, with teams likely giving him different incentives throughout.
It will be a very interesting offseason for both Ohtani and the Angels. Both sides' realities will likely change, and it will shape the trajectory of the league.
