LA Angels’ Ohtani Shohei eventually gave up the first place in all seats and came down.
Otani lost first place in the OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) category, which is in the spotlight as a representative indicator of batter’s offense these days, and fell to second place. The main character who beat Otani is Texas Rangers Corey Seager.
Seager led the Toronto Blue Jays to a 9-2 victory with three hits and three RBIs in four at-bats, including one home run, at Rogers Center in Toronto, Canada on the 15th (Korea Standard Time).
Texas swept four consecutive away games against Toronto, maintaining its second place in the American League (AL) wild card, further increasing its chances of advancing to the postseason. It is no exaggeration to say that Seager led four consecutive wins in the attack. In the four consecutive games, he scored nine hits, one home run, five RBIs and seven runs in 17 at-bats.
While Texas has solidified its foothold in the postseason by sweeping four consecutive away games, some say that it is not too much to do even if Seager is selected as the AL MVP this season.
With his performance on the day, Seager marked a batting average of 0.344, 31 home runs, 92 RBIs, 83 runs, on-base percentage of 0.406, a slugging percentage of 0.663 and an OPS of 1.069. It is the No. 1 slugging percentage and OPS in both leagues. Otani was the player who led the two categories this season.굿모닝토토
However, Otani is absent due to an injury to his right side while training for batting ahead of the Baltimore Orioles match on the 5th. All figures have already been stopped for more than 10 days. Taking advantage of that opportunity, Seager rose to the top spot in slugging percentage and OPS.
Texas Corey Seager is being safe at home in the sixth inning against Toronto on the 13th (Korea Standard Time). Associated Press
Seager is leading the way in slugging percentage and OPS combined. AFP Yonhap News Agency
First of all, the slugging percentage hit two home runs against the Houston Astros on the 5th, marking 0.658 and exceeding Otani (0.654). Seager’s slugging rate, which has been fluctuating since then, surpassed 0.660 for the first time on the day.
OPS had Ohtani at 1.066 until the previous day (14th), but he was overturned by Seager that day. Otani, who has even lost his OPS power, now has no category that ranks first in both leagues. However, Otani still holds the top spot in AL with home runs (44), on-base percentage (0.412), and ruta (325).
Seager leads the AL in batting average, tied for second in on-base percentage, fifth in home runs, eighth in RBIs, and 16th in scoring. The bWAR is second to otani (10.0) in the AL with 6.8, and the fWAR is third to otani (8.9) and Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez (6.0).
Seager was on the injured list (IL) twice this season, so he was not able to fill the regulation at-bats until the 2nd. It was only that day that he was named in the rankings of batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS. Seager was absent for 35 days due to a left hamstring injury in April, and in July, he was IL for 10 days due to a right thumb sprain.
Seager signed a 10-year, $325 million (about 432.1 billion won) FA contract in December 2021 and wore a Texas uniform, making this year the second season of the transfer. Last year, he batted .245 (145 hits in 593 at-bats), 33 home runs, 83 RBIs, 91 runs scored, OPS 0.772 and bWAR 3.9 in 151 games. This season, he is recording career high in RBIs, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS, and home runs are expected to be the highest in his life beyond last year.