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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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When the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that star shortstop Mookie Betts had suffered a fracture in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch on June 16, a number of questions emerged.
Read more: Mookie Betts' Injury Deals Serious Blow to Dodgers; What's Next for the MVP Runner-up?
Not among them: who would hit leadoff?
Read More on MLB
Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani stepped into the Dodgers' leadoff slot last Monday and did more than just pick up where Betts left off. He slashed .458/.567/1.083 in six games, four of which ended in Dodger victories.
The result, revealed Monday, was a National League Player of the Week award for Ohtani. It's his second Player of the Week award this season, Ohtani's first with the Dodgers after signing a record $700 million, 10-year deal inked last December.
Read more: Dodgers Place Two-Time All-Star on Injured List
Ohtani won Player of the Week honors seven times as a member of the Los Angeles Angels, including three in his 2023 AL Most Valuable Player season; two in his 2021 AL MVP season; and two during his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2018.
The award marks the third for the Dodgers this season after Ohtani's previous win and Teoscar Hernández's win on June 10.
The transition to the National League has been more than smooth for Ohtani. He's hit safely in each of his last seven games, and in 20 of his 24 games so far this month, reaching base safely in 22 of the contests.
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Last week, he led the Majors in RBI, slugging, OPS (1.650), extra-base hits (7), and total bases (26); tied for the Major League lead in homers; ranked second in OBP; tied for second in walks; tied for fourth in runs scored; and tied for fifth in batting average. The highlight: a 476-foot home run Tuesday night at Colorado, marking the longest home run in the major leagues this season and the longest homer of his career.
Ohtani has a 1.030 OPS in 76 games this season, second in MLB only to New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. Ohtani leads MLB in batting average (.321) to go along with 23 home runs and 57 RBIs. He's also 16 for 18 in stolen base attempts.
Unlike last year, Ohtani is not pitching for the Dodgers while he rehabilitates from an internal brace surgery on his right elbow that ended his 2023 season prematurely. He's progressed beyond 60 feet in his throwing program as the Dodgers anticipate him pitching next year.
In the American League, Bo Naylor claimed his first career honor and is the first Guardians player to win since his teammate Steven Kwan won on Sept. 26, 2022.
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