LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 13: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a pitch during the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

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Saying Shohei Ohtani may be the best athlete in modern history is not just hyperbole.

There may be a case for the late Jim Thorpe, who played professionally in track and field, football, baseball, and basketball.

Or perhaps there are other professional athletes deserving of being called the best ever.

Naming the best overall athlete in modern times is very subjective. A case can be made for countless wonderful athletes, as is noted below for each major professional sport.

Sports fans are fortunate to have been able to see heroic feats performed by amazing athletes under bright lights, high scrutiny and immense pressure.

For this old scout, watching Ohtani hit, run, and pitch are very special moments

Ohtani, who turns 32 in July, is doing things on a Major League Baseball field that many would say are highly improbable, or even impossible.

The left-handed hitting Ohtani has tremendous power, speed, and a disciplined hit tool on offense.

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The right-handed pitching Ohtani has impeccable command and control, a blazing fastball that has touched 100 miles per hour, and a knee buckling arsenal that includes a four-seam fastball, a sinking fastball, a slider, a curveball, and a split-finger pitch.

Yes, Babe Ruth hit monster home runs, and pitched very well.

Of course, this old scout never saw Ruth play. But the game of professional baseball Ruth played, and the game Ohtani is part of today are vastly different.

Players today are bigger, stronger, faster, in better overall condition, and are greeted every single game by players of enormous talent.

Ohtani is 6-4, 210 pounds. He offers a formidable presence at the plate, or on the mound.

Ohtani is in his ninth season in Major League Baseball.

After playing parts of five seasons in the Japan Pacific League, Ohtani signed as an international free agent with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2027.

Ohtani became a free agent in 2023, and then signed with the Dodgers, where he currently bats leadoff as the team’s primary designated hitter, and pitches as part of the Dodgers starting six-man rotation.

Ohtani is so talented, the Dodgers gave him a massive, 10-year, $700M contract that runs from 2024-2033. $680M of the contract is deferred.

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Ohtani was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2018, his first season stateside.

Ohtani was an All Star in 2021, and 2022 with the Angels. He also won the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award with the Angels in 2021.

Ohtani has been an All Star each of his first three seasons with the Dodgers. He is likely headed for his 4th All Star appearance this year with the Dodgers.

Ohtani also won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ohtani has won prestigious Silver Slugger Awards once with the Angels, and three times with the Dodgers.

This writer saw Ohtani pitch on Japanese Heritage Celebration Night at Chase Field June 3.

Ohtani went six innings in the game, yielding no runs, and two hits, while walking one. He struck out six, and left with a 0.74 ERA. It was an amazing performance.

Offensively, Ohtani was on base five times, with three singles and two walks in six plate appearances. It was an amazing performance.

Ohtani has reached base in 19 consecutive games.

Prior to the game, in his pre-game meeting with the media, Dbacks manager, Torey Lovullo said “Ohtani is the best player I’ve ever seen.”

This writer asked Lovullo which Ohtani impacted his team more, the pitcher or the hitter? Lovullo didn’t hesitate, when he said, “The hitter.”