We've grown too accustomed to Shohei Ohtani's two-way performances—U.S. broadcaster praises Hideki Kuriyama: truly visionary

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani has been heating up at the plate since June began, shaking off a May slump in which he hit only four home runs. So far this month, he has posted a .333 batting average with seven homers. Following recent remarks by World Baseball Classic (WBC) Team USA manager Mark DeRosa on the MLB Network, who marveled that "he's not just on the mound—as a hitter, he's truly an unbelievable presence," the local Los Angeles broadcast team also expressed awe at the rarity of his two-way ability.

After Ohtani hit his 17th home run of the season yesterday (the 23rd), Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis commented: "We get so used to what this man does, but that’s exactly why we have to constantly remind ourselves how special this is. It’s never been seen before, and we’ll never see it again in our lifetime."

He further explained that simply getting the chance to attempt the two-way role is extremely difficult. "Maybe in the future someone will say, 'Here’s a developing two-way player,' but such players rarely get the opportunity because as soon as they show talent in one area, the team will demand they focus there. The reason is simple: being a two-way player is considered impossible. What Shohei Ohtani is doing was never supposed to be achieved. Even Ohtani himself, if placed in a different era or on a different team, would most likely never have been allowed to try."

Analyst Eric Karros pointed out the key to Ohtani's success as a two-way player: "To some extent, he was able to attempt the two-way role because he was still in Japan at the time."

Broadcaster Joe Davis added: "If he had come straight to the U.S. after high school, being a two-way player would have been impossible. American teams might let him choose, but eventually they would have forced him to focus on either pitching or hitting. It's precisely because he established himself as a two-way player in Japan that he could continue that challenge in the majors."

Looking back at the context when the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters insisted on drafting him, broadcaster Joe Davis noted: "There was only one team willing to believe in the possibility of a two-way player. The same was true in the U.S.—only one team would try it. Something no one has ever done is essentially considered impossible. Even in Japan, many believed 'if you chase two rabbits, you catch neither,' and even if it were possible, they thought it shouldn't be attempted."

However, at that time, only Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama fully supported him, willing to draft him and give him the chance to develop as a two-way player. Joe Davis stated directly: "Without his vision and support, Shohei Ohtani's two-way career would never have been realized."

Finally, analyst Eric Karros said: "I believe Ohtani's decision to stay in Japan after high school rather than come straight to the U.S. itself shows his conviction and passion for being a two-way player. Beyond his exceptional physical abilities and skills, he also demonstrated mental strength that is unmatched by anyone."