Shohei Ohtani, currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is considered by many to be the most important face of modern baseball.
His emergence in Major League Baseball has been undeniable, transforming the sport and winning over fans at home and abroad thanks to his talent and charisma.
His impact has transcended the boundaries of sport, establishing himself as a global figure, but his media recognition seems to be far below what his talent deserves, especially when compared to great athletes in other disciplines, such as LeBron James.
Shohei Ohtani is compared to LeBron James
During a recent appearance on The Right Time with Bomani Jones podcast, journalist Howard Bryant expressed his frustration with the way MLB has handled the promotion of Ohtani, despite his status and achievements.
“That’s LeBron James level”
Bryant recalled a conversation he had with CC Sabathia, former New York Yankees pitcher and future Hall of Famer, who as early as 2018, the year of Ohtani’s debut, said that the Japanese player was “the best baseball player of all time”.
“Sabathia told me I didn’t need to wait to see him anymore. He was the best pitcher, the best hitter, and he also hit home runs and RBIs,” Bryant said
The journalist insisted that Ohtani is comparable to LeBron James in terms of talent and impact on the game, but does not receive the media attention he deserves.
“Think about it, that’s LeBron James level. But when you see that kind of talent, nobody seems to care. He should be at that level, except for the fact that he doesn’t speak English and they’re not promoting him that way,” he said.
A historic season with the Dodgers
Despite criticism about his low media profile, Shohei Ohtani continues to break records with the Los Angeles Angels. Last season, he became the first player in MLB history to achieve at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single campaign.
In the current season, the Japanese player is on track to surpass his personal record of 54 home runs.
He currently leads the National League with 37 home runs, and recently set a new franchise record for the Dodgers by hitting a home run in six consecutive games, so he continues to be one of the favorites to win the MVP for the third consecutive time, an achievement that few have achieved in the history of baseball.
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