Go to a lab and create a perfect baseball player. Chances are he’ll start looking like Shohei Ohtani. That has been the sentiment of multiple fans throughout Shotime’s career. One could argue its details but it’s undeniable that the idea does hold some weight to it. After all, who else can bat like an MVP and pitch like he’s a Cy Young winner at the same time?  Ohtani’s a unicorn, he’s someone who cannot be recreated. However, a Los Angeles Dodgers analyst made a claim that’s bold even by the standards of a fandom.

We’re currently enjoying a sort of golden age of sports. Yes, the ratings aren’t what they used to be but the on-field product is clearly improving. From fitness to tactics, everything has evolved. As a result, every sport has seen new greats emerge from the shadows. The NFL saw Patrick Mahomes challenging Tom Brady’s legacy. On the other hand, the NBA has seen Nikola Jokic rise to the limelight. But according to Dodger Nation’s Doug McKain, Ohtani is better than both of them.

“You can make a case that Shohei Ohtani is as good at his job as anyone on this entire planet,” McKain said while praising the Dodgers star. “Nikola Jokic just won his third MVP – Ohtani is better at baseball than Jokic is at basketball. You look at NFL, Patrick Mahomes just won another Super Bowl – Ohtani is better at baseball than Mahomes is at football.” 

But what made McKain come to this conclusion? He explained in simple words – the others have competition, Ohtani has none. “No one says right now that Nikola Jokic is going to pass Michael Jordan. No one’s saying right now that Mahomes is going to go down the GOAT,” McKain said. However, according to him, Ohtani is as good as it comes in baseball and that’s what separates him from others.

While McKain has his reasons to compare players, there’s no denying that Ohtani’s impact on baseball has been huge. No other player in this sport generates the kind of frenzy that accompanies Ohtani wherever he goes.

Shohei Ohtani – Record-breakingly loved by the fans

Part of the reason for such extreme opinions on Shohei Ohtani comes from his extraordinary fanbase. Imagine the love that he enjoys that the Los Angeles Dodgers fanbase broke records on his Bobblehead night. With 53,527 fans – it wasn’t just the highest-attended game of this season but the most-attended Dodgers game since 2019. That’s the kind of popularity that only a few players get to enjoy.

Ohtani too has been paying off fans with memorable performances. The two-way phenom currently leads the league on multiple fronts. Even without pitching, he has remained the most scary player in baseball. How good has he been? Ohtani just became the first 10-10 player of this season (12 homers 10 steals).  He has 30 feet per second pace, he’s leading in barrel hits and his balls go farther than most. Shohei Ohtani is special – he is after all a unicorn.