Shohei Ohtani has spent the 2025 MLB postseason solidifying his stature as one of the greatest all-around baseball players that we have ever seen. Amidst his ability to break records with seemingly every passing game, one player from a different sport believes that he could have had success playing baseball if he hadn’t chosen to hit the hardwood.
Brandin Podziemski Thinks He Could Have Been Like Shohei Ohtani
Brandin Podziemski is in his third NBA season. Drafted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors in 2023, he has come an important rotational piece for the fading dynasty, and has even started 64 of his career 144 games. Since entering the league, Podziemski has averaged 10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, and the Warriors have held on to him despite his name routinely popping up in trade rumors.
Brandin Podziemski believes that he could've been a two-way MLB player like Ohtani if he pursued a baseball career 👀🔥
(Via @NickFriedell) pic.twitter.com/OcK4WnfGvo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 1, 2025
And while he could blossom further into an even better NBA player, Podziemski believes that he could have been a star playing baseball, too.
In a recent article by Nick Friedell of the Athletic highlighting his early years, Podziemski’s sports journey was told. He excelled in grade school playing baseball, and was talented in two different realms of the game. He had a solid arm and was described as a great pitcher, but he truly excelled at the plate. Podziemski eventually quit the sport in order to focus solely on basketball, but he gave an interesting quote about what could have been:
“I think I could be the white Shohei (Ohtani). I think I could do both. Maybe not to the degree he can do it, but I think I could for sure do both. Pitch, play the field, hit, all those things.”
Comparing yourself to arguably one of the greatest athletes to ever live is quite a bold statement. Ohtani is completing one of the most dominant seasons and postseasons that we have ever seen, and will be the starting pitcher for Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday night.
At the same time, Brandin Podziemski will be in Indiana with his Warriors in order to take on the Pacers.
