I don’t think some people quite understand how much of an alien Shohei Ohtani is because there’s literally been nobody in sports that can compare other than Babe Ruth, who played against plumbers and garbage men.
I hear people all the time ask, “If what Ohtani just did translated to football/basketball, what would the performance look like?” The answer doesn’t exist. The Japanese phenom is among the best hitters and pitchers in the game. Two skill sets that players develop over a lifetime. Two differing crafts that don’t relate to each other at all.
Because he plays for the Angels, Ohtani probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Every ‘best player in baseball’ conversation shouldn’t even include the two-way superstar because it’s not even a fair fight for other guys. He’s in a league of his own, which is exactly what Atlanta’s infield guru Ron Washington said to Zack Klein before Monday’s contest between the Halos and Braves.
Braves Ron Washington on the difference between Bo Jackson.. Deion Sanders .. 2-sport stars… and LA’s Shohei Ohtani ..
“He toes the rubber and hits… he needs a ‘S’ on his chest.. he toes the rubber…C’mon man… c’mon man” pic.twitter.com/0eK0M0jpQz
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) July 31, 2023
There aren’t many people that have been around the game longer than Ron Washington, and he can’t even fathom a question on the difference between two of the greatest athletes in American sports — Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders — and Shohei Ohtani. Wash is right; he’s better described as Superman.
Ohtani very well could win a Cy Young and MVP in the same season, which is unbelievable to even say aloud. He’s the best player in the history of the sport, and Braves Country should cherish getting to watch him play at Truist Park over the next three games.
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John Cordes/Icon Sportswire
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