"Don't forget, Shohei Ohtani will be pitching next year" - Alex Rodriguez predicts more Dodgers dominance in future after World Series 2024 win
Former New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez has predicted more dominance from the LA Dodgers, with Shohei Ohtani set to pictch next year, having won the 2024 World Series with a 4-1 series win over the Yankees on Wednesday.
When Ohtani signed a bumper $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he was expected to win major accolades. In his very first postseason, with him not even displaying his two-way prowess, he's a World Series champion. Things can only get better from here.
As the Dodgers celebrated, Rodriguez, on FOX's post-game broadcast, said that LA's victory might be the start of something special, especially with Ohtani returning to the mound next season. He said that the Dodgers' core group is locked in for 2025 and is expected to make a lot of noise if they play well.
"They're just getting started. Don't forget, Shohei Ohtani will be pitching next year. They have a core coming back; they have incredible resources," Rodriguez said.
In six seasons with the crosstown rivals Los Angeles Angels, Shohei Ohtani achieved plenty of individual trophies, but team success eluded him. He suffered a second major injury to his right elbow last season that forced him to drop his pitching activities for his first season in LA.
Nevertheless, Ohtani notched up one of the best offensive seasons of all time, becoming the first to enter the 50-50 club with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. He had a quiet postseason and a quieter World Series, going 2-for-19 at the plate, but the Dodgers won their eighth title.
Alex Rodriguez blasts Yankees 'meltdown' in Game 5 against Shohei Ohtani's Dodgers
For someone who was a part of the New York Yankees roster that won their last title back in 2009, it was heartbreaking to see his team squander a golden opportunity to force game 6.
The Yanks made two fielding errors and missed a crucial chance to end the fifth innings that saw LA get back to parity with five runs.
"This is one of the greatest meltdowns I have seen in the last forty years," A-Rod said after the game.
Unlikely the Dodgers, the Yankees have their work cut out. They aren't sure if their star player Juan Soto will be back next season, as he's set to test free agency for the first time. Aaron Boone and his staff will also have a lot to ponder about some figures in the offense.