Entertainment
Shohei Ohtani Is Better Athlete Than Messi, Jokic & Mahomes, Ex-W.S. Champ Says
Jerry Hairston Jr.
Ohtani’s ‘Best Athlete On The Planet’
… Better Than Messi & Mahomes!!!
Published
Los Angeles fans ain’t just getting a glimpse at the best player in baseball in Shohei Ohtani, they’re looking at the best athlete on the planet … at least, that’s according to former World Series champion Jerry Hairston Jr.
The longtime Big Leaguer sat down with TMZ Sports a day after the Dodgers’ designated hitter beat the Braves with a walk-off home run … and he proclaimed the superstar is now officially the top sportsman on the globe.
BALLGAME.
Shohei Ohtani sends everyone home … with his bobblehead! pic.twitter.com/Js8h2qVaLw
— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2025
@MLB
“No disrespect to [Lionel] Messi,” he said. “No disrespect to Patrick Mahomes, [Nikola] Jokic — who’s having an incredible season again with the Nuggets. But I think right now, the best athlete on the planet is Shohei Ohtani.”
There won’t be many in L.A. who will disagree … particularly after Ohtani’s monster Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium against Atlanta.
In addition to the blast that won the tilt, he also had two other hits … raising his season batting average to a whopping .333. At some point, too, he’s going to take the pitching mound for L.A. … something not lost on Hairston Jr.
“He does so many things well,” the ex-Dodger said.
The team is now a perfect 8-0 … and for those griping that L.A.’s essentially bought this super team — check out our interview with Hairston Jr., he’s got quite the message for the haters!