Shohei Ohtani dropped one-word reaction when asked if he was nervous ahead of first postgame series with Dodgers 

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was all smiles on Monday after being named the AP Male Athlete of the Year for 2024. Ohtani earned the honor due to his historic 50/50 season, something never accomplished in the majors before.

The magical season earned Ohtani his third MVP award, winning the honor in both leagues. However, 2024 marked the first time Ohtani appeared in a postseason game.

During his tenure with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani never saw the postseason despite having strong seasons at the plate and on the mound.

But 2024 was a different sort of year for the two-way superstar. His new club, the Los Angeles Dodgers, were in the thick of the playoff race. That situation prompted the media to ask Ohtani about his feelings ahead of his first postseason appearance in October.

Despite using a Japanese translator for media appearances, Ohtani replied in English to answer the question about being nervous before his first postseason appearance.

Ohtani simply replied:

“Nope.”

The response drew plenty of laughter from those in attendance.

With the Dodgers poised to continue their dominant performances in the NL West, there’s plenty of reason to believe Ohtani will get a chance to reprise his postseason heroics in 2025.

Shohei Ohtani won a lopsided vote for AP Athlete of the Year

The voting for the AP Male Athlete of the Year wasn’t even close in the end. Shohei Ohtani dominated, garnering 48 votes, 38 more than second-place competitor, French swimmer Leon Marchand. Golfer Scottie Scheffler came third with nine.

The next competitors, including New York Yankees’ slugger Aaron Judge, managed just a single vote.

The lopsided tally is a testament to Ohtani’s dominance during the 2024 season. While fans may not see another 50/50 season in 2025, there is no reason to believe the Japanese star will be slowing down.

He’s making a fast recovery from offseason shoulder surgery. Plus, there’s even a possibility that Ohtani may return to the mound in 2025.

If that’s the case, fans could witness a historic season in which a dominant batter takes the mound. While it wouldn’t be the first time Ohtani does that in the majors, it could be the first time Ohtani does it in the postseason or perhaps the World Series.

How do you think Shohei Ohtani and the LA Dodgers will fare next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.