"Shohei Ohtani deserves to be a bigger star" - MLB analyst argues Dodgers sensation surpasses Babe Ruth, Serena Williams & Nikola Jokic in talent
Shohei Ohtani just locked up his third career MVP after hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases. The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger is on a level that is unmatched by most in the history of sports according to sports analyst Dan Le Batard. It's something that should push Ohtani higher than Babe Ruth, Nikola Jokic, Serena Williams, and anyone else.
"Whatever Babe Ruth is now, Shohei Ohtani is going to be 70 years from now ... The stats on the MVP voting suggest a level of mastery you will not find anywhere else in sports. Not from Jokic, not from Serena Williams, not anywhere," Le Batard said. "He deserves to be a bigger star."
His co-host Jeremy Tache pointed out that, for perspective, Ruth won a single MVP in his career. Ohtani has three, at least one coming in both the AL and the NL. All of Ohtani's MVP awards have been unanimous as well, something no other player in the major sports can say.
Jokic has won multiple MVPs in the NBA and is considered one of the best offensive players to ever touch the basketball. Being a center only adds to the unique nature of Jokic, but he's still not as unique as Ohtani in Le Batard's mind.
Williams is one of the most successful athletes of all time and certainly one of the best tennis players to ever touch a racket, but again, Ohtani has had a level of success that even she hasn't, as per the analyst.
Shohei Ohtani expects target on Dodgers moving forward
Shohei Ohtani was part of the Dodgers' offseason spending spree of over $1 billion, and it paid off with a World Series ring. Moving forward, Ohtani expects teams to come after them.
He said via Sports Illustrated:
“Moving forward, I do think we will have a target on our back and we will be expected to possibly do even more. But we are as a team going to continue to do the best we can and try to achieve those goals.”
Despite the 2023 spending spree, the 2024 offseason may not be entirely quiet as the Dodgers have been linked to numerous top free agents.