Posting a Shohei Ohtani monster card is becoming an annual event. But if the shoe fits…
2023 Shohei Ohtani
10-5 record, 3.14 ERA
.304 batting average
20 steals
Led AL with:
- 44 HR
- .412 OBP
- .654 SLG
Shohei continues to produce a great card as both a hitter and a pitcher. For the Angels, he led the league with 44 homers, a .412 OBP and a .654 slugging percentage. His 78 extra-base hits exceeded all other AL batters. Batting .304, Ohtani also stole 20 bases and walked 91 times.
On the mound, Ohtani went 10-5 in 23 starts with a 3.14 ERA. He struck out 167 batters in 132 innings while walking 55.
Plus from what I can see, Ohtani seems like an all-around good person and great for the game. All that adds up to another AL MVP award for Shohei.
Batting stats
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Totals | 135 | 599 | 497 | 102 | 151 | 26 | 8 | 44 | 95 | 20 | 91 | 143 | .304 | .413 | .654 |
Pitching stats
| Split | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Totals | 10 | 5 | .667 | 3.14 | 23 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 132.0 | 85 | 50 | 46 | 18 | 55 | 167 |
Showcasing Shohei
First, I find it interesting that the AL leader in homeruns will not have that stat listed on his APBA card. We’re living in the age of Shohei.
This is becoming a tired refrain but double columns on sluggers just don’t cut it for me. Shohei Ohtani led the AL in homers, slugging, and extra-bases. Looking at this card, I’m seeing a two-column card with a few singles in the second column. I don’t doubt the numbers or its accuracy but single-column cards are so much fun.
That said, Ohtani has two 1s and three 0s and that is worth celebrating if you are a fan. He has seven 1s in the second column. With eight triples, Shohei has six 2s as well. So overall even with the four singles in second column, it’s a relatively strong second column.
Ohtani has a 55-8 but to compensate for that, he has a 15-11 based on his 20 steals. With five 14s, he should be able to replicate an average somewhere around his actual .304 mark despite his 8-8-9-9 hit number combination.
Not surprisingly, Ohtani is graded as a B pitcher. With a 3.14 ERA, he falls squarely in the B range in my perspective.
Shohei struck out 167 in 132 innings for a 11.4K/IP rate. His strikeout % (which I think APBA uses to calculate pitching ratings), went from 33.2 in 2022 to 32.5 this year and that was enough to change it from a K to an XY.
The Angels don’t have a 3B-5 and no double plays will be stopped.
Assorted Shohei
- There is no indication that Shohei Ohtani can or should be used as a Designated Hitter on the 2023 card. If you’re playing APBA Baseball then you probably know.
- Ohtani’s 2023 card has a 53-21 like every other pitcher in the majors. This is unlike his 2022 card where he has a 53-20.
- Ohtani has seven 13s but does get two 31s this year. Last year, he had a 63-32.
- One of those 13s is at 41 which means Ohtani has no 24s.
Of course, Shohei Ohtani has been in the news because of a historic contract that rivals Bobby Bonilla’s with the Mets. The difference in my opinion, is that Ohtani has the chops.
The question is if he can maintain his legacy.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Tom.
I found a few small typos in your post, and i know you have asked me to point those out when i see them.
1. The gray box at the top of the article lists his piching record at 10-15, not 10-5.
2. “First, I find it interesting that the AL leader in homeruns will not that stat listed on his APBA card.” I think the word “have” got left out after “not” and before “that” in the above sentence.
I agree that 2 column cards for power hitters isn’t as much fun.
Thank you, Dan!! Appreciate you doing this!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!