Why is Travis Hunter comparing himself to $700 million Shohei Ohtani?

Travis Hunter’s confident remark before debut in NFL world leaves MLB fans criticizing player for comparison against Shohei Ohtani.

Why is Travis Hunter comparing himself to $700 million Shohei Ohtani?

Travis Hunter and Shohei Ohtani [Image Credit: YouTube/Imago]

Travis Hunter, one of the top prospects for the 2025 draft, has left the sports world speechless with his bold remark on Shohei Ohtani. In a recent interview, he said what he does in football is harder than what Ohtani does in baseball.

His remark earned the 21-year-old heavy criticism from baseball fans on social media. While his claim might not be based on just talks, many believe that the comparison should come after his debut this year.

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In 2024, Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy following his play with the Colorado Buffaloes in the last two seasons. He played both offense and defense and wishes to play in multiple positions after his drafting in 2025. 

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Probably me, what I do in football [is harder] because it is a lot on your body. Ohtani, he’s a great player, but you gotta do a lot in football.

Travis Hunter as per Jomboy Media on X.

During the interview, Hunter made it clear that he wishes to play in the NFL as a two-way star. He said it’s the league that should figure out what’s best to do, but he wishes to “play both sides of the ball.”

Dreaming of being a two-way star in sports undoubtedly brought about comparisons with the current hottest player, Shohei Ohtani. His game play as both pitcher and hitter has caught the attention of not only the MLB but also the sports world altogether.

The number of dual-position players in the sports world is increasing, with Shohei Ohtani leading one of the spots. Ohtani’s debut in MLB came with a major splash as he can both pitch and hit in a game.

His talents further got highlighted in 2024 when he couldn’t pitch due to recovery from elbow surgery yet managed to break and record several titles to his name. Since his rookie season in 2018, Ohtani has won 3 MVP awards and has recorded 225 home runs in 860 career games, posting an overall .282/.371/.575 slash line. 

Shohei Ohtani focusing on back-to-back World Series title in 2025

The MLB regular season games will start shortly, and once again, the baseball world will dive into the race to the October games. The preparations are being made, and the 29 teams are ready to challenge the current World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, for their crown.

Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani (Image via Imago)

The LA Dodgers have made their moves in the offseason, and with training camp going on, the focus will remain to retain the trophy for another year. Last year, Shohei Ohtani could not pitch, but his performance in the postseason amazed the fans.

Currently, the Dodgers’ $700 million superstar is focused on winning the WS title back-to-back in perfect health. The team had some solid additions to the group, with the highlights being Roki Sasaki, among the other stars.