Shohei Ohtani’s Unbelievable Brilliance Stuns Clayton Kershaw, Who Joins Growing List of MLB Icons Awed by His Generational Talent
There are very few players in Major League Baseball who can leave legends speechless. Even fewer can draw words of amazement from future Hall of Famers who have spent their careers mastering the game and witnessing its evolution. But Shohei Ohtani is not like anyone who has ever played the game—not in this generation, not in any before. And now, even Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP known for his stoic demeanor and ruthless competitiveness, has joined the growing list of elite players left in awe of Ohtani’s greatness.
Kershaw, who has shared a clubhouse with Ohtani since the Japanese two-way star joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, recently opened up about his feelings toward Ohtani’s once-in-a-lifetime talent. And, like Freddie Freeman and many others before him, Kershaw didn’t hold back in his praise.
“You think you’ve seen it all in this game, then you play with Shohei,” Kershaw said. “It’s not just the numbers. It’s the way he carries it all—the pressure, the expectations, the spotlight. And somehow, he still plays like he’s the best player on the planet. Because he is.”
For Kershaw, a pitcher who has faced nearly every great hitter of the past 20 years and struck out more than 2,900 batters in his illustrious career, to say that is no small thing. It’s a reflection of Ohtani’s sheer magnitude—not just as a player but as a phenomenon transforming the very DNA of baseball.
Kershaw isn’t the first to be mesmerized by Ohtani, and he certainly won’t be the last. Since arriving in MLB in 2018, Ohtani has accumulated a long list of admirers and outright worshippers, both teammates and opponents. Mike Trout, perhaps the greatest player of the last decade and Ohtani’s former teammate in Anaheim, called him “a freak of nature.” Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez has referred to Ohtani as “the best player in the world.” Justin Verlander, Aaron Judge, and Mookie Betts have all sung similar tunes.
But Kershaw’s words feel especially impactful given the context. He’s not just reacting from afar—he’s sharing a dugout, traveling with Ohtani, watching his routines, and seeing up close the amount of preparation it takes for one man to dominate as both a hitter and a pitcher.
“When you think about all that goes into starting a game—scouting reports, mechanics, recovery—it’s insane,” Kershaw said. “Now imagine doing that while hitting 40 homers a year. It doesn’t make sense. It shouldn’t be possible.”
Ohtani’s arrival in Los Angeles was a monumental event, both culturally and competitively. The Dodgers gave him a historic 10-year, $700 million contract—loaded with deferred money and trust in his health—because they believed he could help deliver championships while also elevating the franchise to new global heights. And so far, he hasn’t disappointed.
In his first year with the Dodgers, Ohtani continued to smash home runs at an elite pace despite being unable to pitch due to a second UCL injury. Even as a DH, he led the team in virtually every offensive category. But it wasn’t just the stats—his presence changed the way opponents approached the Dodgers. Pitchers worked around him, fans arrived hours early to watch his batting practice, and his jersey became the top seller in baseball.
Kershaw, long the face of the Dodgers’ franchise, welcomed the shift. “He brings a different energy,” Kershaw said. “There’s this calmness about him, but underneath, there’s this competitive fire that’s just unmatched. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Kershaw’s own resume is staggering: three Cy Youngs, an MVP, a World Series title, and a near-certain first-ballot Hall of Fame induction. He’s been the Dodgers’ cornerstone since 2008, dominating an era of baseball where pitching became harder and hitters became more dangerous.
So for someone like Kershaw to openly say that Ohtani has “changed the game,” it speaks volumes. “I’ve played with and against some incredible guys,” Kershaw said. “But Shohei…he’s just different. He’s rewriting what’s even imaginable.”
Kershaw’s admiration also seems to come with a touch of disbelief, a feeling shared by many in baseball. There’s a certain reverence in his tone, not unlike that of an older master finally encountering a prodigy who bends the rules of the universe.
“It’s hard to explain,” he said. “You see him hit a 450-foot home run, and you think, ‘Okay, that’s his thing.’ But then he goes and throws 101 on the mound with a wipeout splitter. You almost laugh. Like, ‘That’s not fair.’”
Despite the fanfare and astronomical expectations, Ohtani has remained one of the game’s most grounded superstars. He rarely boasts, rarely complains, and rarely lets anything phase him in interviews or on the field. That humility has not gone unnoticed by veterans like Kershaw.
“He’s as humble as they come,” Kershaw said. “He shows up, does his work, and plays the game the right way. There’s no ego. No drama. Just greatness.”
This quiet demeanor only adds to the mystique. For fans and players alike, Ohtani feels almost mythical. A player so supremely gifted should, by all logic, show signs of arrogance or burnout. Yet Ohtani remains focused, deliberate, and respectful—qualities that earn him even more admiration from peers like Kershaw.
What Shohei Ohtani is doing has forced MLB to think differently. Awards voters have had to reconsider how MVPs are judged. Teams have had to re-evaluate how they scout, train, and utilize talent. Young players across the world are now dreaming of being two-way stars—not just because it’s cool, but because Ohtani has shown it’s possible.
And Kershaw, once the symbol of pitching dominance in the modern game, sees Ohtani as a harbinger of a new era. “He’s evolving the game in real time,” Kershaw noted. “Kids are going to grow up wanting to be like Shohei. Not just hitters. Not just pitchers. Both. That’s going to change everything.”
In many ways, Ohtani is already more than just a player. He’s a movement. He’s a challenge to baseball’s status quo, a model for versatility, discipline, and global appeal.
Kershaw’s career is nearing its twilight. Whether he retires this year or next, he’ll leave behind a legacy as one of the greatest pitchers to ever step on a mound. But his encounter with Ohtani in these later years has added a new layer to his own story—one where even a living legend becomes a witness to something greater.
“You want to think you’ve seen it all,” Kershaw said again, almost shaking his head. “Then Shohei walks in the room, and you realize you haven’t seen anything yet.”
That sentiment is echoed across the league—from dugouts to bullpens to broadcast booths. The list of players astounded by Shohei Ohtani’s talent is long and growing: Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Jacob deGrom, Mookie Betts, and now Clayton Kershaw. Each adds their voice to the chorus of admiration, a symphony of awe for the man who may be the most talented player the sport has ever seen.
Perhaps the most frightening part of all this is that Ohtani is still in his prime. Barring injury setbacks, he’s expected to return to pitching duties in 2025, which will again complete the two-way marvel that made him a unanimous MVP. With each passing year, his legend grows—not just in statistics, but in stories told by men like Kershaw.
As long as he stays healthy, Ohtani will continue building one of the most unique legacies in sports history. He’s not just chasing greatness. He is greatness, unfolding before our eyes. And now, with Clayton Kershaw—one of the most accomplished pitchers of all time—joining the list of believers, the message is clear:
Even among baseball’s best, Shohei Ohtani stands apart. He’s not just changing games. He’s changing minds.
