Smith, a grizzled veteran with 15 years of big league experience, has witnessed his fair share of incredible players. But Ohtani, he confesses, is something else entirely. A force of nature, a baseball phenomenon that defies explanation. As Smith puts it, in a phrase dripping with reverence, “He’s the best player that’s ever walked this earth.”
The stats back it up. Ohtani’s numbers are staggering – a 3.00 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, with a wicked curveball and a fastball that tops out at 105. But it’s more than just the numbers; it’s the way Ohtani approaches the game, with an unshakeable confidence and an unparalleled baseball IQ. He has a “really good feel for the game,” Smith notes, a sense of what hitters are trying to accomplish and how to keep them uncomfortable throughout a game.
Ohtani’s mastery of the strike zone is one such example. He has a keen eye for reading opposing hitters, for knowing exactly where to locate his pitches to maximize their effectiveness. It’s a gift that’s hard to quantify, but one that’s impossible to ignore, especially when he’s on the mound, effortlessly dispatching batters with a precision that’s almost surgical.
And yet, Ohtani’s greatest strength lies not in his individual skills, but in his ability to adjust on the fly. He has an unspoken understanding with his pitcher, a sense of how to fine-tune his approach to suit the situation. It’s a dynamic that’s hard to describe, but one that’s palpable on the field, as Ohtani effortlessly navigates the ups and downs of the game, always seemingly one step ahead of his opponents.
Smith points to Ohtani’s ability to speed up hitters, slowing them down with a perfectly placed curveball, or attacking the zone with a pinpoint fastball. It’s a versatility that’s unmatched in the game today, a testament to Ohtani’s elite baseball instincts and his refusal to be bound by conventional thinking. He’s a free spirit, a game-changer who defies categorization.
And still, Ohtani continues to improve. He’s taking another step forward as a pitcher, refining his craft with each passing outing. Smith attributes his teammate’s success to an insatiable work ethic, to a willingness to push himself to new heights and stay there. It’s a quality that’s admirable, to say the least, and one that serves as a reminder to the rest of us mere mortals that, no matter how good we get, there’s always room for improvement.
“He has this ability to make adjustments on the fly,” Smith notes, “to know exactly where to go with the pitch, to know exactly what the hitter’s trying to do.” It’s a rare gift, one that sets Ohtani apart from his peers, and cements his status as the game’s most dominant player.
Will Smith’s description of Ohtani should be etched in stone, for posterity and for the sake of history. It’s a summation that distills the essence of this incredible player, a man who transcends even the lofty standards of his sport. In the end, it’s Ohtani vs. the world, a battle in which he’ll undoubtedly emerge victorious.
Players: Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
