Angels’ Ohtani voted majors’ top DH for 2nd straight year

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Category: Sports

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. back-to-back / bæk tu bæk / (adj.) – happening or coming one after the other
    Example:

    The TV network will be screening back-to-back episodes of the show tonight.


  2. homer / ˈhoʊ mər / (n.) – a home run
    Example:

    He hit the ball so hard that he was able to do a homer.


  3. streak / strik / (n.) – a series of repeated success or failure
    Example:

    The team is on a shooting streak and gained a 10-point advantage during the first half.


  4. slugger / ˈslʌg ər / (n.) – a baseball player who hits the ball very hard
    Example:

    The slugger made a home run after successfully hitting the ball.


  5. public relations / ˈpʌb lɪk rɪˈleɪ ʃənz / (n.) – the activity of communicating and keeping good relationships between an organization and the public
    Example:

    The company is looking for someone with good communication skills to handle its public relations.


Article

Read the text below.

Shohei Ohtani has been voted the majors’ best designated hitter for the second consecutive season.


The Los Angeles Angels’ two-way slugger won the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, beating out Houston’s Yordan Alvarez as the top player in the position in 2022.


Ohtani, who won the AL MVP award unanimously in 2021 and finished second in the MVP voting this season, is the first player to win the designated hitter trophy in back-to-back years since David Ortiz won it five straight times from 2003-07.


Ohtani batted .273 with 34 homers, 95 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and a .875 OPS that was good for 10th in the majors. He led all designated hitters with at least 100 at-bats in hits, runs, total bases, triples, homers, RBIs and walks, while his six multi-homer games tied Troy Glaus’ franchise record with the Angels. Ohtani also had an 18-game hitting streak during the season.


Alvarez finished second in the voting after an outstanding offensive season with the World Series champion Houston Astros, but the Cuban slugger played only 77 games as a DH. He finished third in the AL MVP voting behind the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Ohtani.


Ohtani is the 11th player to be named the majors’ top designated hitter multiple times during the award’s 49 years of existence. He is the only Japanese player and the only Angels player to win it.


The winner is chosen by a panel of 100 media members and public relations employees.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Ohtani has been named the majors’ top designated hitter multiple times, while David Ortiz won the MVP award five straight times from 2003 to 2007. Do you think there should be a limit to how many times a player could be given the highest award in his/her sport? Why or why not? Discuss
  • In your opinion, what does it take to be an MVP or receive the highest award in sports? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Ohtani is the only Japanese player to win the Designated Hitter Award for playing for the Los Angeles Angels. How do you think the Japanese feel about this recognition? Discuss.
  • In what sports are athletes from your country known to excel globally? Discuss.