The Great Equalizer
This unearthed footage of Shohei Ohtani playing golf is proof he is human after all
Shohei Ohtani is not of this world/galaxy/universe. The Los Angeles Dodgers' new $700-million slugger/ace is an athletic hybrid we haven’t seen since the halcyon days of Deion Sanders—a shutdown defensive force and an explosive offensive weapon rolled into one crazy ball of WTF. Over the course of his first five MLB seasons, Ohtani has clubbed 171 home runs and hurled 608 strikeouts, putting him in the rarest baseball air you can imagine (specifically that of Babe Ruth).
Despite his singular MLB dominance, however, there is one athletic endeavor Ohtani has yet to conquer. As you’ve probably already guessed, it’s golf.
Honestly, we’re not sure when this footage is from. It popped up on Twitter and everybody was all over it like Ohtani on a hanging slider. He might be a much more accomplished golfer by now (hanging out with Mike Trout daily certainly didn't hurt). Still though, it’s almost comforting to see one of the world’s most freakish athletes get humbled by a three-footer for bogey. Ohtani seems like a good egg, we’re rooting for him, but it’s nice to get the occasional reminder that we’re not alone in this struggle.
As for the impact Ohtani’s shiny new contract might have on his golf game, perhaps he can now pay for some lessons ... or at the very least a new set of clubs.