Capable of hitting and pitching at an elite level, Shohei Ohtani boasts the sort of skillset no other player in the major leagues can match. The Japanese superstar has five All-Star selections and four MVP awards to his name, along with several other notable individual honors.
As a result, many fans and experts alike have labelled Ohtani as the greatest baseball player of all time.
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.’s dad, however, does not think that is the case. Making an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of the “To The Majors” podcast, Bobby Witt Sr. explained his thoughts.
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“I’ve always been a guy that’s been both sides of the ball,” Witt said (Timestamp: 2:07:26). “So, he’s an unbelievable hitter, he’s a great pitcher, but he can’t do anything defensively to win a ball game. So he’s definitely up there. What he’s accomplished, some of the stuff, the 50-50, it’s crazy.
“But there’s never been anybody that’s not a DH that’s ever been like him. But I don’t know. Barry Bonds was an unbelievable outfielder, won a bunch of Gold Gloves. You take that guy, with the home runs and if you look at his defensive stuff, what he used to do. I look at guys who do things on both sides, you know?”
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher pinpoints “tough part” of Shohei Ohtani’s two-way game
During Sunday’s episode of “Dugout Discussions,” Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo told insider and content creator Chris Rose about what he thinks is the “toughest part” of Shohei Ohtani’s two-way game.
“Everybody in the major leagues understands how hard it is (to do what Ohtani does),” Woo said (Timestamp: 12:25). “I think the tough part beyond how well he’s doing is just the toll on his body that it takes to do that.
“How I feel just pitching, I can’t imagine playing everyday and being in the lineup everyday. Hitting on the same day as pitching, and hitting leadoff homers. That part is beyond comprehension. We’re just like everybody else. Like, he still blows us away as much as every other fan.”
Having won two World Series titles in two years with the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani is now looking to add another feather to his cap by helping his team accomplish a historic three-peat.
Edited by Raghav Mehta