Tokyo (AFP) – Japanese superstar Shuhei Ohtani returned to the country on Tuesday and criticized his Los Angeles Angels, who once again missed the MLS playoffs.
In an interview at Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport, Ohatney summed up his season in American baseball as “individually good,” but criticized the Angels’ lackluster results.
Ohtani and Mike Trout, another MVP award winner, didn’t get much support, and the Angels tied their seventh straight win-loss record to miss the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.
“I have to say August and September in particular took me forever, more than last year,” Ohtani said.
The Angels went 73-89 to finish 33 games behind the Houston Astros in the MLS Western League.
The team has not made the playoffs since 2014. Ohtani signed with the Angels in 2018 and is still waiting for his debut after the season ended.
Ohtani went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA as a pitcher. When it was his turn to racket, he hit 34 home runs, led 95 runs and averaged 0.273.
He was asked about the possibility of repeating as the best player in the American League.
He replied, “The mere fact that they consider me a candidate makes me happy.”
Otani previously agreed to a $30 million contract with the Angels for the 2023 season, the last before free agency. The angels said they wanted to keep it.
The star said he wants to represent Japan at next year’s World Baseball Classic, and that it will be played before the MLB season.
“Many top players in the United States and Latin America have announced that they will be participating,” Otani said. “Participation in this tournament is something that captivates me, and I am looking forward to it.”
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