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MLB Analyst Catching Flak For Comments on Los Angeles Dodgers Signing Shohei Ohtani

Justin Verlander's younger brother, Ben Verlander, said Shohei Ohtani was the most important signing in Los Angeles Dodgers history, seemingly ignoring Jackie Robinson.
Sam Connon|
MLB Analyst Catching Flak For Comments on Los Angeles Dodgers Signing Shohei Ohtani
MLB Analyst Catching Flak For Comments on Los Angeles Dodgers Signing Shohei Ohtani

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Los Angeles Dodgers

FOX Sports analyst Ben Verlander just made quite the bold statement, and fans have been quick to push back on his unpopular opinion. 

On a recent episode of his podcast, "Flippin' Bats," Verlander broke down the importance of the Los Angeles Dodgers bringing in top free agent target Shohei Ohtani. Verlander – the younger brother of Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander and noted Ohtani enthusiast – ultimately went as far as saying Ohtani was the "most important signing in Dodgers history."

Here's a clip of that segment:

"This means everything. It's the most important signing in Dodgers history, I have no problem saying that. It's the most important, it's the biggest, I think it'll be the most impactful. And it's already impactful – not on the field, but odds-wise, the Dodgers are now the odds-on favorite to win the World Series. They signed Shohei, well guess what? That comes along with the territory, you're now the favorites to win. What else does this mean? Well, it also means you have the ability at this point – and this is something that's been so important, and I said it a little before earlier but I will continue to say it – this money, $700 million. Yes, you get Shohei on your team for, guaranteed, the next 10 years, right? But this goes on forever. And I said this last week, I said it before and I'll continue to say this. Whatever team Shohei Ohtani signs with will be remembered as his team forever. Shohei Ohtani now goes into the Hall of Fame as a Los Angeles Dodgers player. It won't be as an Angel – he'll be remembered as starting his career with the Los Angeles Angels. But he's gonna go into the Hall of Fame wearing a Dodgers hat and he'll be remembered forever in a Dodgers uniform. Let's talk Babe Ruth, right? He played with the Red Sox. He's remembered as a New York Yankee and will forever be. And he's a guy that's almost this mythical figure, he's a legend of the game, we see him in movies all the time and he's in a Yankees uniform. That's what this is. And it lives on forever, it doesn't end after the 10 years. You're not paying $700 million for the baseball player Shohei Ohtani. You're paying $700 million for the brand that is Shohei Ohtani. And so much comes along with that. The marketing that you'll be able to do forever, the people that will watch Dodgers games forever because Shohei Ohtani played for the Dodgers – 'I want to go watch a baseball game where he used to play.'"

Now, Verlander's line of logic seems sound.

Ohtani earned his record pay day not only due to his play on the field, but his influence as a standout figure on the global baseball stage. The money the Dodgers will be able to bring in through sponsorships and international syndication is clearly a big part of why they were willing to fork over $700 million for his services.

But mere minutes after FOX Sports shared that clip on social media Tuesday, Verlander was called out for an obvious omission.

Fans far and wide criticized Verlander for not recognizing Jackie Robinson as the most important signing in franchise history, considering he broke baseball's color barrier. The Hall of Fame second baseman did more than that, too, winning an MVP, Rookie of the Year, batting title and World Series while making six All-Star appearances as a Dodger.

Despite the team being based in Brooklyn at the time, the Dodgers still claim Robinson as their own. He remains one of the most influential singular people in the history of sports and American culture.

Ohtani may be a once-in-a-lifetime two-way superstar, and he could help the Dodgers reach new heights of popularity and success, but positioning his signing above Robinson's did not sit well with people online.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer covering baseball for “Fastball on SI.’’ He previously covered UCLA Athletics for On SI’s All Bruins site, and is a UCLA graduate, with his work there as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for On SI’s New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Sam lives in Boston.

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