During a press conference on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Colorado Buffaloes head coach and former MLB and NFL star Deion Sanders expressed his admiration for Shohei Ohtani‘s performance in Game 4 of the NLCS
Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings, struck out 10 and hit three home runs to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to the World Series. Sanders, who had a unique two-sport career, hopes the Japanese phenomenon will open the door for more dual-role players in baseball.
A performance that left Sanders speechless
“Can they give him the MVP during the game?” Sanders asked in amazement when he learned the details of Ohtani’s performance. The former player, who played in a World Series with the Atlanta Braves and won a Super Bowl with the 49ers and Cowboys, called Ohtani’s performance “amazing” and “hard to believe.” Although he did not declare it the greatest sporting performance of all time, he acknowledged that what the Japanese does is “unbelievable.”
Ohtani as an inspiration for future generations
Sanders compared the impact of Ohtani to that of Travis Hunter, whom he allowed to play as a receiver and cornerback on his college team
There are many pitchers who can hit, but they are never allowed to do so
For Sanders, the success of Ohtani could change that mindset and allow more talent to develop both skills in professional baseball.
The numbers behind Ohtani’s greatness
In the 2025 regular season, Shohei Ohtani hit .282, hit 55 home runs and drove in 106 runs. He is the favorite to win his second consecutive National League MVP, adding to the ones he already won in 2021 and 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels. His ability to dominate both from the mound and in the batter’s box makes him a unique case in the modern history of the sport.
Sanders remembers his time as a baseball player
With nostalgia, Sanders commented: “When I’m in the cafeteria and I see the baseball games, I think, ‘Wow, I used to do that'”. In his MLB career, he batted .263 with 39 home runs, 168 RBIs and 186 stolen bases. Although he recognizes that the game has changed, he celebrates that it is faster and more dynamic, and is enthusiastic about what Ohtani represents for the future of baseball.
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