Two-way MLB star Shohei Ohtani said Tuesday he hopes to still be playing baseball this time next year after missing MLB's postseason for five straight years with the Los Angeles Angels.
Speaking upon his return to Japan, the American League's 2021 MVP reflected on being considered for more postseason awards, his playing for Japan next March in the World Baseball Classic and his 2022 season ending too early for his liking.
"The postseason is still going on," he said upon his arrival at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. "As much as possible next year I want to be playing games this time of year."
"I think I continued on from last year with another good individual season. Next year, again I want to set big goals, and do my best."
On Monday, Ohtani was among the finalists for the Hank Aaron Award, for the player voted as each league's most outstanding regular-season offensive performer from each league.
Ohtani was nominated for the second straight season after batting .273 with 34 home runs and 95 RBIs for the Los Angeles Angels. Each team nominated a player, before a panel of MLB.com writers selected 16 finalists -- eight from each league -- from 30 nominees.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, who set an American League record with 62 home runs, and Ohtani's teammate Mike Trout who had 40 homers, were also among the AL finalists.
The Baseball Writers' Association of America, meanwhile, said this season's league MVPs will be named on Nov. 17.
Ohtani is a candidate to repeat after becoming the first player in MLB's World Series era to qualify for the leaderboards as both a hitter and a pitcher, while Judge is the favorite to take this year's honor.
"Just being considered makes me really happy," Ohtani said. "It adds to my confidence that I did indeed deliver a good season."
After missing the 2017 WBC due to injury, Ohtani has expressed interest in playing for Japan under his former manager, Hideki Kuriyama, in March, but insisted he has yet to make the final commitment.
"The timing was bad last time with my ankle injury," he said. "My desire to take part is unchanged since I played in Japan, and I am thinking positively about it."
"I have spoken once with manager Kuriyama. Just his saying he wanted to compete alongside me again was a thrill. I haven't yet decided but I want to take my time thinking it over.
Related coverage:
Baseball: Ohtani runner-up to Judge in Baseball Digest MVP award
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani qualifies for both pitching, hitting leaderboards
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani's hit streak ends as Judge sets AL home run record
