Tag: Ohtani

MLB Preview

By: Carson Wilsey

For baseball fans worldwide, the 2025 MLB season is looking to be an exciting year. There is a lot of excitement surrounding the new roster additions, trades, and intriguing prospects making their big league debuts as teams prepare for the upcoming season. In order to improve their offensive, add depth to their defensive groups, and boost their pitching rotations, teams made a number of high-profile offseason additions. The return of several of the league’s most dynamic players from injury, including great pitchers and power hitters, is one of the most exciting parts of the 2025 season. These players will be hoping to recover and reclaim their position as important contributors to their teams’ success. 

The postseason race will likely be intense as usual. Teams with established stars and deep rosters, such as the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves, continue to be the league favorites. Nonetheless, a number of up-and-coming teams, such as the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles, are hoping to advance and make a strong playoff run. Because more clubs will be able to compete for a position in October due to enlarged playoffs, the regular season is even more important. The division races will be fierce, particularly since some divisions appear to be as close as ever and a few significant victories could mean the difference between a wild card and a division title.

Beyond the team conflicts, the season’s plots will also heavily rely on individual players. There is always fierce competition for the MVP and Cy Young awards, and 2025 looks to be no exception. While seasoned veterans like Mike Trout and Mookie Betts are always a threat to regain the spotlight, young talents like Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Julio Rodríguez will continue to dominate headlines. As the MLB continues to enact rule changes intended to quicken play and produce a more thrilling brand of baseball, the game’s evolution will also be important this season. With anything from new hitting approaches to altering laws, fans can expect lots of shocks during the season.

How Crucial is Ohtani to the Dodgers Success this Year?

By: Henry Jones

The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the 2025 MLB season with high expectations following their 2024 World Series championship. Analysts project the Dodgers to achieve a remarkable 104.5 wins, the highest preseason win total since at least 1990. The Dodgers also made many off season pick ups by adding Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki to their bullpen. Sensational player Shohei Ohtani is also coming back from arm injury and will be able to pitch this year. The Dodgers’ lineup remains formidable, featuring stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández. The addition of Hyeseong Kim from the KBO adds depth to the infield. The Dodgers are heavily favored to repeat as World Series champions, with odds of +250, reflecting their strong roster and successful offseason. While the Dodgers’ roster is exceptionally strong, the unpredictable nature of baseball means that success is never guaranteed. However, the combination of a deep roster, strategic acquisitions, and high expectations positions the Dodgers as strong contenders for the 2025 season. Also, Shohei is projected to win the National League MVP. This is not a shocker to most people due to his ability to make big plays at the plate and be a reliable starting pitcher. Assuming he stays healthy (a big factor for any prediction), Ohtani’s two-way success will continue to set him apart from the rest of the league. There could be some load management for his pitching, especially given his dual role, but as he continues to push boundaries, the Dodgers may work with him to ensure his longevity while still maximizing his impact both at the plate and on the mound. Also, his hitting will probably maintain his offensive production at an elite level. After a strong 2024 season, he will continue to be a powerful presence in the lineup, hitting over 40 home runs and driving in around 100 RBIs. His batting average could hover around .270-.280, with his on-base and slugging percentages remaining among the best in the league. Expect him to also be a consistent threat on the base paths, stealing around 10-15 bases. While some people say the Dodgers already have enough stars to win it without Ohtani, I believe he is such a generational player that they just couldn’t achieve greatness without him.