Since becoming a LA Dodger, Shohei Ohtani has had two of his best seasons ever PLUS being a member of TWO World Series championship teams

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SPORTS NOTES EXTRA - SHOHEI OHTANI… is ROUNDING INTO SHAPE

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We've yet to reach the half of the season mark. The bottom line is have no fear the Ohtani Man is here approaching his level best. The Double duty talent is from a cold weather climate in Japan. One of his concerns when he became a free agent was, he made it known that he prefers to play on a team in a warm weather climate - THIS DAY IN THE NBA - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Thursday June 11, 2026

A TWO WAY PLAYER AGAIN

It seems many Shohei Ohtani fans are concerned about his slow start as a hitter. The double duty talent is from a cold weather climate in Japan. One of his concerns when he became a free agent from the disrespectful Los Angeles Angels, he made it known that he prefers to play on a team in a warm weather climate.

When the New York Yankees expressed an interest in the power hitter Ohtani was cold to the idea. When the Los Angeles Dodgers expressed an interest, it was all systems go to make a deal.

The Dodgers made a 10-year offer in the $700-hundred-million-dollar deferred offer. It was a beauty, with Ohtani agreeing to the financial arrangement by only taking a $2 million salary per season. Ohtani loves the game enough to play for free but business is business. Sucha deal… the Ohtani man went from worst to first by changing teams.

Since becoming a Dodger, the now 31-year-old player has had two of his best seasons ever. That achievement is complimented by being a member of a team that has won back-to-back World Series titles.

Last season the four-time league MVP started off with a slow start as hitter. He also was not medically cleared for pitching assignments; therefore, the bat was where it was at for the Dodgers.

The big payoff is this season the Oshu, Japan native back on the mound after a two-year pitching arm healing process. Ohtani is a 6'4" (193-centimetre - 76 in), 210-pound (95 kg) right-handed pitcher. His development is slow. At the beginning of the season he was at a six inning, 100 pitch limit. His form and recovery process thus far is positive.

He's upped the ante by pitching into the seventh inning. He has a 6 W 2 L record. He has given up only three home runs in 67.2 innings. His control is good. He has struck out 73 and walked only 23 batters.

Ohtani's hitting has improved. After staggering around at the beginning of the season by batting between .225 to .250 he seems to have found his rhythm and groove upping his team leading average to a current .298.

We've yet to reach the half of the season mark. The bottom line is have no fear the Ohtani Man is here approaching his level best.

Some of his league achievements as a Dodger are noted as follows:

Home runs leader 1 2024

Extra base hits leader 2 2024, 2025

Runs batted in leader 1 2024

Runs scored leader 2 2024, 2025

Total bases leader 2 2024, 2025

Intentional base on balls leader 1 2025

At bats per home run leader 1 2024

2× 50 home run club - 2024, 2025

50-50 club - September 19, 2024, vs Miami Marlins.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

June 11, 1987 Five Boston players scored 20 points or more, led by Dennis Johnson with 25, to tie an NBA Finals record as the Celtics beat Los Angeles 123-108 in Game 5. The Lakers, however, bounced back to win the NBA Championship in six games.

June 11, 1993 Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls and Charles Barkley of the Phoenix Suns each scored 42 points in Chicago's 111-108 victory, marking the first time in NBA Finals history that opposing players each scored 40 or more points in a Finals game.

June 11, 1999 The New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 90-82 in the series-clinching Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. They became the first number eight seed to reach the NBA Finals when they faced the San Antonio Spurs for the championship.

June 11, 2000 Shawnelle Scott scored 18 points and former University of South Carolina standout B.J. McKie notched 16 points to lead the NBA Ambassadors to a 107-77 victory over Hong Kong at Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong. The triumph improved the Ambassadors' record to 3-0 in the Asian Basketball Association League. The Ambassadors, coached by NBA legend Nate "Tiny" Archibald, represented the National Basketball Development League, slated to begin play in North America in November 2001.