"Like a 14-year-old playing with 10-year-olds" - Mets slugger lauds explosive power of Shohei Ohtani amid heated battle with Dodgers in NLCS
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez lauded the explosive power that Shohei Ohtani generates with his bat, saying that it is almost like an unfair advantage. Martinez feels that the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is a cut above the rest of the hitters in the league and compared him to a 14-year-old boy competing against 10-year-old kids in the field.
Widely regarded as one of the most dependable right-handed batters of his generation, Martinez is currently playing his 14th season in the MLB. He is a six-time All-Star with three Silver Slugger awards and a winner of the 2018 World Series with the Boston Red Sox. Martinez played for the Dodgers last year before joining the Mets at the start of the 2024 season.
The veteran offered his thoughts on the Japanese superstar after Shohei Ohtani hit home runs in Games 3 and 4 of the National League Championship Series.
"It's almost like a 14-year-old playing with 10-year-olds," Martinez said via The New York Post's Jon Heyman. "The ballpark just seems too small for him. He generates so much power, hits the ball so hard – it's a deadly combination."
Ohtani has been red hot in the NLCS, having batted 6-of-18 over the five games so far with eight walks, five RBIs, two home runs and an OPS of 1.205. He is batting over .600 in this postseason with runners on base, but astonishingly, his average drops down to just over .100 when the bases are empty.
Teams have come back from down 3-1: J.D. Martinez believes Mets can still upset Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers
J.D. Martinez believes the Mets can still thwart the Dodgers to claim the NL pennant, despite the stellar performances of Shohei Ohtani on his maiden postseason appearance. The Mets are only a loss away from elimination, but they have been a remarkably resilient team this year when their backs are up against the wall.
"I feel like they're rolling right now, and it's going to take a big-time momentum shift to stop them," Martinez said.
“We’ve got a shot. Teams have come back from down three to one. It has happened," he added.
The Mets beat the Dodgers 12-6 at Citi Field in Game 5 of the NLCS on Friday. The series heads back to the West Coast for Game 6 on Sunday and a decisive Game 7 the following day, if required.
Can Martinez and the Mets tie the series and force a deciding Game 7? Or will Ohtani and Co. book their World Series tickets in Game 6? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.