President Trump Praises Shohei Ohtani, the Modern-Day Babe Ruth

2 weeks ago 0

During a ceremony at the White House, President Donald Trump honored Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani for his exceptional performance on the baseball field. Ohtani, who is often compared to the legendary Babe Ruth, has made significant achievements in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Trump celebrated Ohtani’s accomplishments, noting his record-breaking feats during the 2025 season. Notably, Ohtani achieved the rare honor of winning a unanimous league MVP award more than once, showcasing his prowess as an international baseball icon.

In the 2025 season, Ohtani’s skills were on full display as he hit 55 home runs, breaking his franchise’s record and securing him a third consecutive unanimous league MVP. Trump acknowledged that such a feat was previously deemed impossible by many, highlighting Ohtani’s dual talents as both a pitcher and a hitter.

Over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Ohtani’s baseball career soared as he hit 99 home runs and led the National League with a 1.025 on-base plus slugging (OPS). After undergoing elbow surgery, he returned to pitching in 2025 with a commendable 2.87 ERA and 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings, matching his figures from 2022 when he led the American League.

Ohtani, dubbed the ‘Japanese Babe Ruth,’ is the only MLB player with more than 300 plate appearances and over 40 innings pitched in six separate seasons.

President Trump also reflected on Babe Ruth’s trade history, criticizing the Boston Red Sox’s decision to trade Ruth to the New York Yankees as the worst in sports history. He humorously noted that Ruth, originally drafted as a pitcher, led the league in home runs—a unique achievement.

In 1920, the Red Sox traded Ruth for $100,000 and a loan for Fenway Park, which Trump mentioned while discussing the infamous trade.

Currently, Ohtani is having another impressive season, maintaining a .283 batting average with 22 home runs, 60 runs batted in (RBI), and six stolen bases across 94 games. As a pitcher, he holds an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts despite missing a recent game due to a knee issue.

Ohtani aims to further contribute to the Dodgers’ quest for a third straight World Series title with a strong second half of the season.