The Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani speaks to reporters after the All-Star Game in Denver, on July 13, 2021. (Mainichi/Hojin Fukunaga)

       Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani is doing extraordinary things this season in Major League Baseball. The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about the Los Angeles Angels' two-way wonder.

       Question: Is Ohtani popular in the U.S.?

       Answer: Yes. He has been playing as both a pitcher and hitter throughout the 2021 season, earning four wins as a hurler and clubbing an MLB-leading 33 home runs in the first half. Ohtani garnered a whopping 63% of fan votes to be the American League's DH for this season's All-Star Game and started the game as well, becoming the first person in major league history to be selected to the Midsummer Classic as both a pitcher and position player. His All-Star souvenir T-shirt sold out faster than any other player's, and his autographed All-Star jersey was sold for $130,210 (about 14.34 million yen) at a postgame charity auction -- a record high in MLB auction history.

       Q: That's something. What's his appeal?

       A: In addition to hitting huge homers and throwing powerful fastballs at more than 100 miles per hour (over 161 kilometers per hour) -- both skills highly prized by American baseball fans -- his breezy, friendly attitude and good manners also play a part in his popularity. Some say that his pioneering determination to continue as a two-way player, like baseball legend Babe Ruth, wins a lot of respect.

       Q: But isn't the number of hate crimes against Asians increasing in the U.S.?

       A: There may be those who are not happy about Ohtani's outstanding performance. A commentator for cable sports channel ESPN said during a show that he didn't think it helped MLB that its "number one face is a dude that needs an interpreter." His comment drew a fierce backlash, with many critics calling it racist, and the commentator later apologized for the remark. However, such negative views are few and far between, and Ohtani's fanbase continues to grow beyond racial differences.

       Q: What should we expect from Ohtani in the latter half of the season?

       A: Hopes are high that he will become the first Japanese player to take MLB's home run crown, and that he will do it while also racking up double-digit wins as a starting pitcher. Baseball fans are also keeping a close watch on whether Ohtani can become the first major leaguer in 20 years to hit 60 home runs in a season.

       (Japanese original by Hojin Fukunaga, Los Angeles Bureau)

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