Shohei Ohtani’s Angels reunion serves as a clear reminder of why his decision to join the Dodgers was the right move. For the first time in his major league career, the two-time MVP participated in significant September baseball on Tuesday at Angel Stadium.
A change of uniform made this moment possible.
During his six years with the Angels, Ohtani showcased extraordinary talent, pushing the boundaries of what fans believed was possible. He was given the unique opportunity to excel as both a hitter and a pitcher, making an immediate impact by hitting 51% above league average and posting a 3.31 ERA as a 23-year-old rookie before injuries struck.
His debut season concluded with Tommy John surgery and a disappointing 80-82 record for the Angels. While Ohtani returned even stronger, the franchise struggled to keep pace.
By 2021, Ohtani was back in the spotlight, winning his first MVP award. He followed that with a second-place finish in MVP voting and a fourth-place finish in Cy Young voting in 2022, and capped off last season with another MVP trophy, despite undergoing another significant elbow procedure. Throughout his time in Anaheim, the Angels failed to win 80 games in any season, never finishing above third in their division, and consistently failed to surround their star player with the necessary talent to reach the postseason.
Last season’s push to contend by adding players at the trade deadline quickly fell flat. The Angels’ 8-19 record in August coincided with Ohtani’s UCL injury. Many of the newly acquired players were placed on waivers to relieve financial strain, leading to the departure of baseball’s latest sensation.
This offseason, the Angels seemed to be contenders in the race for Ohtani, but they could not match the Dodgers’ 10-year, $700 million offer.
“I’m just thankful and grateful for the teams that ended up offering a contract because that’s a reflection of what they think about me,” Ohtani expressed to reporters through interpreter Will Ireton prior to his return to Anaheim.
Would he have considered staying if the Angels had made a competitive offer?
Perhaps it was fitting that Tuesday’s game was not an emotional farewell.
One year to the day of his last game in an Angels jersey, Ohtani returned to Angel Stadium for his 352nd game, now as a visitor. The Angels had previously honored him with a tribute video during the Freeway Series in March. This time, however, a graphic showcasing his achievements greeted him as he stepped to the plate.
He shared a brief embrace with catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who, along with home plate umpire Brock Ballou, allowed Ohtani a moment to absorb the atmosphere. Yet, there was no prolonged pause; he was focused and ready to hit.
Ohtani acknowledged Ballou’s gesture with a nod before concentrating on starter Reid Detmers.
Despite moving on, Ohtani still holds a fondness for his former team.
Before the game, he referred to Anaheim as “a special place” and expressed his anticipation of reconnecting with the fans. He hinted that had he remained healthy throughout his tenure, the outcomes might have been different.
Yet, that chapter is now behind him.
“I think Shohei has certainly, rightfully, moved on,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented. “He does a great job of separating real life from work, but this moment is something that people have looked forward to.”
As the game unfolded, the crowd swelled to 44,731, marking the highest attendance of another challenging Angels season, largely fueled by Dodgers fans traveling south. Many wore blue No. 17 jerseys, and a light “M-V-P” chant greeted Ohtani during his first at-bat. The cheers intensified when he hit an RBI triple to tie the game in the third inning.
“As a player, you feel very supported and appreciative of all the fans that are in front of me, in front of the team,” Ohtani remarked. “It makes a difference that they’re out here.”
This was the experience he had envisioned.
The Angels sit at the bottom of the standings, likely facing their 10th consecutive postseason absence. In contrast, the Dodgers boast the best record in baseball, poised for their 12th straight playoff run.
Roberts noted that the Angels did not pose as significant a threat as teams like the Blue Jays, Giants, or Cubs.
“I don’t think they were in the conversation,” he said regarding the Angels. “There was a lot of hearsay. They could’ve been in the conversation, but I never got wind of that. That might have been on the down-low, but even Shohei said they didn’t offer him.”
Angels pitcher Patrick Sandoval mentioned that there was little effort to persuade Ohtani to stay last season, as he doubted it would influence Ohtani’s decision.
As speculation swirled about Ohtani’s next destination, including rumors of him heading to Toronto, Sandoval found humor in the situation.
“Just knowing him, knowing how private he is, and how the media built it up to be something it wasn’t, I thought it was funny when he apologized for taking so long,” Sandoval said. “It really wasn’t that long at all. It was fairly early.”
The Angels brought in Ron Washington as their new manager in November. He stated that the topic of Ohtani’s future never arose during interviews and that he did not speak to Ohtani before the superstar announced his decision via Instagram the following month.
“I certainly wasn’t going to be the one to come here and make that decision,” Washington said. “So he ended up signing with the Dodgers. I think as a manager, and every manager in baseball, would love to have him on their team. I would love to have him on this team. It didn’t happen.”
Now, for the first time in September, Ohtani is engaged in meaningful baseball on a talented roster with championship potential. Even without pitching this year, he remains a captivating presence, on track to become the first player to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, as well as the first primary designated hitter to win MVP.
In his return to Anaheim, the spotlight was on him to deliver a game-winning moment. Ohtani stepped to the plate in the 10th inning with the opportunity to secure the victory. However, Washington opted to walk him intentionally, allowing Mookie Betts to follow up with a three-run homer.
Ohtani is accustomed to being the hero at Angel Stadium. On this occasion, he didn’t need to be.
“Most importantly, it’s about winning the game,” Ohtani stated. “And I’m glad that we won.”
