Shohei Ohtani compared to Michael Jordan and the Japanese star is said to be “more impressive”

In the world of sports, there are world-class figures whose careers are marked in history and are examples for children, fans and new generations. Whenever a player begins to stand out for his level, comparisons with the great stars of the past begin and baseball is no exception. With Shohei Ohtani shining on the field, it is inevitable to compare him with other greats of the sport and in a renowned podcast they did so with none other than Michael Jordan.

After a recent performance in which Ohtani struck out eight batters and drove in two runs with a home run, despite his team losing, on the Club 520 podcast, host Jeff Teague and his panel discussed Ohtani’s unusual feat in MLB and came to a surprising conclusion: “Who do you compare him to in any other sport?” The discussion quickly turned to Michael Jordan, whose unrivaled 1988 season is considered one of the greatest sporting feats.

Ohtani’s dominance

Despite Jordan’s dominance in basketball, the panel made a crucial distinction: baseball, unlike basketball, is a game of individual achievement. In a strikeout, for example, the pitcher receives no help from his teammates, making Ohtani’s performance all the more extraordinary. After intense discussion, Jeff Teague gave his final verdict: “I won’t say it’s more dominant, but I will say it’s more impressive”.

This comment highlights the uniqueness of what Ohtani is achieving. Unlike Jordan, who had to overcome obstacles early in his career before building a legacy of six championships, Ohtani is redefining baseball with statistics that seem straight out of a video game.

Jordan’s legacy

Jordan’s feat of going 6-0 in the NBA Finals is one of the most difficult feats to match in sports history. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has commented in the past that for Ohtani’s legacy to compare to Jordan’s, he must win “multiple championships.” That being said, what Ohtani is doing in MLB is “literally unreal,” according to the podcast panel. Although it remains to be seen if he will match Jordan’s championship rings.