This year, 2026, Shohei Ohtani's low home run count has become a major topic of discussion in both Japan and the US. In 2024, Ohtani hit a league-leading 54 home runs, and in 2025, he hit a career-high 55 home runs, ranking second in the league. It's fair to say that everyone recognized Ohtani as a hitter capable of hitting many home runs. However, as of the end of May 2026, Ohtani’s home run count is only 10. If he continues at this pace, he will finish the season with 27

My initial interest in 3,000 career hits in Major League Baseball was sparked by Stan Musial (who died in 2013 at the age of 92). My interest in 3,000 career hits grew stronger, and I became interested in their relationship to single-year hits, thanks to Al Simmons (who died in 1956 at the age of 54). And with the move of our Japanese hero, Ichiro, to Major League Baseball, my interest in the relationship between 3,000 career hits and single-year hits increased even further.

This is a sequel to my last column. In my last column, I wrote about my personal analysis of the “rankings in eight batting categories.” Every year, I research each player’s league ranking in eight batting categories: hits, walks, home runs, runs, RBIs, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. I believe that players who achieve the top five in the league in all eight categories can be considered the best hitters in MLB. This is merely one example of wha

It's fair to say that Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are the two most representative superstars in Major League Baseball today. These two players performed remarkably well this year during the 2025 regular season, though both also had their share of disappointments. This time, I'd like to look back on their accomplishments and disappointments. A concise but well-written biography of Aaron Judge by Clayton Geoffreys (2020) A press photo collection of Shohei Ohtani from the firs

To hit a lot of doubles, you need to consistently hit the ball hard with the bat. This means that players who hit a lot of home runs also...

All home run leaders (the players with the most home runs in each season in each league) naturally possess incredible power. But are...

It's amazing that Shohei Ohtani achieved 50-50 (50 or more home runs, 50 or more stolen bases) in 2024, because no one in the long...