Shohei Ohtani Can Become MLB’s Michael Jordan With Dodgers, Bob Costas Says

The longtime MLB announcer made a bold claim about Ohtani in the wake of his signing with the Dodgers.

Longtime MLB announcer Bob Costas believes that baseball’s do-everything star Shohei Ohtani made the right decision in picking the Dodgers in free agency.

In fact, Costas believes that Ohtani can make a Michael Jordan-like impact on the sport in Los Angeles.

“If you’re talking about baseball overall, and Ohtani at this point is about as close to what Michael Jordan was,” Costas said. “… Michael Jordan was an asset to the entire NBA, not just to the Chicago Bulls. So if you’re trying to maximize that asset—public fascination—where even casual fans want to tune in for it, you want to maximize that? The Dodgers are a better place for that than Toronto. 

“…So this is the best chance for Ohtani, to be in a very big market, with all sorts of marketing possibilities, surrounded by Hollywood…and to get to the postseason, and fingers crossed, maybe all the way to the World Series.”

There is no doubt that Ohtani’s versatility, both as a frontline starting pitcher and a middle of the order power hitter, has captivated both casual and diehard fans of the sport.

Now, $700 million later, the Dodgers are hoping that this generation’s Babe Ruth can help deliver the franchise multiple world championships.