When Shohei Ohtani first entered MLB in 2018, many were billing the Los Angeles Angels’ pitcher as the next Babe Ruth thanks to his dual threat on the mound and at the plate. However, after undergoing Tommy John surgery, a knee injury and a condensed 2020 season, Ohtani’s dual threat has been minimized. This year, the Japanese player is putting those whispers to rest. According to a fivethirtyeight.com report published May 24, Ohtani ranks 10th among most valuable by wins above replacement and No. 1 as most valuable by win probability added. It might have taken him longer to reach this status than originally thought, but Ohtani’s journey has brought him to being a recognizable star in MLB.
For the U.S. on-premise market, the pandemic last year was the equivalent to a season-ending injury as it forced many operations to shut their doors ― some temporary, but some permanent. Although it has been a difficult 15 months for the channel, beverage-makers are stepping up to support the on-premise channel as it looks to rebuild.