Analyst Colin Cowherd has covered sports for multiple decades, and Shohei Ohtani has him in complete awe. After going 3-for-8 with two walks and a home run to start the season in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two wins over the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series, Cowherd had high praise for how Ohtani handled himself in front of a home crowd.
Shohei Ohtani Met the Moment in Tokyo
The 30-year-old Ohtani went to Tokyo and put the Dodgers on his back, reaching base 50% of the time in his 10 plate appearances. Following his stellar performance, Cowherd didn’t hold back on his show when discussing Ohtani.
“The greatest baseball player ever. Yeah, it’s not particularly close. Is there anybody in sports right now that meets the moment like Shohei? It is very Messi and MJ and Tiger in his prime, Steph and LeBron. Dude meets the moment.”
“Like Tiger in his prime… What you’re seeing now is making all-time great players feel small.”
Colin Cowherd has the highest praise for Shohei Ohtani. pic.twitter.com/cRPLazBN9q
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 19, 2025
Cowherd also marveled at Ohtani’s dominance, noting that his offense is only half of what makes him great.
“Don’t forget about this. He’s a leadoff hitter, and he could be an All-Star pitcher. Half of his greatest skill, he’s not even using yet: the pitching part.”
You know Ohtani is doing special things when you hear legends’ names in the same conversation — players considered the greatest of all time in their sports, like Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods. But Cowherd went further, emphasizing Ohtani’s unique two-way ability.
“[Patrick] Mahomes can’t play linebacker. [Alex] Ovechkin’s not a goalie. What you’re seeing now is making Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge — all-time great players — feel small.”
Ohtani is coming off his first season with the Dodgers, in which he won his first championship and posted a league-leading 9.2 WAR (wins above replacement) en route to his third MVP award in the last four seasons. He led the National League with 54 home runs and 130 runs batted in and captured his third Silver Slugger award.
Cowherd has seen plenty of players come and go, but according to him, he’s never seen anything like Ohtani.
“This cat is totally different. This is the best athlete in America. There’s nothing like him. And forget Babe Ruth — there has never been a pro athlete in America like this. We are watching history. Just put the camera on him; it’s Tiger in his prime. Just watching him walk up the fairway is special.”