The 2021 American League home run title was shared by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Blue Jays and Salvador Perez of the Royals, who each finished with 48 home runs.

Shohei Ohtani was also chasing history as the first Japanese-born player ever to win an MLB home run crown, but he ultimately finished with 46.

One of the major reasons he fell just short was the extraordinary number of walks he received late in the season.

After hitting his 45th home run, Ohtani drew 13 walks over four games — tying an MLB record shared by legends such as Babe Ruth and Bryce Harper.

Some people cynically suggested pitchers simply did not want an Asian player to become home run champion.

In reality, however, the situation was more strategic than political.

The Angels lost superstar hitter Mike Trout to a long-term calf injury in May, leaving opposing teams with a simple approach:

“If you stop Ohtani, you stop the Angels.”

As intentional walks increased, Ohtani admitted Trout’s absence was certainly part of the reason.

Still, he looked at the experience positively.

“But honestly, that feeling was refreshing. I never thought I’d get to experience something like that in the major leagues.”

He then added:

“I think it became a really valuable experience for what comes next.”

Rather than feeling frustrated about being pitched around, Ohtani treated it as proof that he had reached another level — the level reserved for the most feared hitters in baseball.

That experience may have helped prepare him for the dominant seasons that followed.

Source

This quote comes from a Japanese magazine published in Japan and is not currently available in English.

Number 1040, p.14