(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani was magnificent in July.
He had a .282 batting average, a 1.152 OPS, and an AL-best nine home runs over 23 games with the bat.
He also struck out 29 batters in 25.1 innings, with a 4.97 ERA for the month.
His performance earned him Player of the Month honors, something he already had done in June.
According to Angels Senior Communications Manager Matt Birch, he is closing in on a Mike Trout (his teammate and friend) record.
“Since 2013, Shohei Ohtani is the only Major League player to win consecutive Player of the Month Awards and has now done so twice (also, June/July 2021). In #Angels history, only Mike Trout (5) has more Player of the Month Awards for a career,” he tweeted.
Since 2013, Shohei Ohtani is the only Major League player to win consecutive Player of the Month Awards and has now done so twice (also, June/July 2021).
In #Angels history, only Mike Trout (5) has more Player of the Month Awards for a career. https://t.co/teYrjraR2j
— Matt Birch (@MattBirch12) August 2, 2023
Ohtani, at this point, has no rivals for his second AL MVP award.
He is slashing .307/.408/.676 with a league-leading 39 home runs and 13 stolen bases, while also pitching to a 3.43 ERA in 120.2 innings.
He has been the Angels’ best hitter and pitcher, and neither is particularly close.
One more month of normal Ohtani play (which means awesome and significantly better than the rest of the league) and he will tie Trout for the most Player of the Month awards.
Speaking of Trout, he reportedly felt good after taking some dry swings in his recovery from hamate surgery.
He should be back at some point in August if all goes well, which would really aid the Angels’ playoff chances.
The team is 56-53 and still has a lot of work to do to improve their place in the standings, thinking about both the division and the Wild Card.
If Trout joins Ohtani and the multiple trade deadline acquisitions in time, there is a path for LA to make the postseason.
