Shohei Ohtani’s return to two-way dominance has not just reignited MVP buzz, it has also sparked concern. While the star’s .287 average, 29 homers and jaw-dropping 101.7 mph fastball scream stardom, there is an undercurrent of unease around just how much the Dodgers are asking of their prized phenom. Former MLB pitcher, identified for his candid takes, did not stop while weighing in on the situation.
“Listen, I’m not comparing myself to Shohei at all,” Dontrelle Willis began at the period of a current broadcast. “But I’m a National League guy, so I know how it is to hit, come off the field and then lead off an inning or vice versa… I had that one mistake where I ran a triple and all of a sudden I couldn’t even get the sign because I was so gassed on the mound.” Willis’ point was not lost—Ohtani is not just a pitcher and hitter; he is bothal and that is a lot to ask of anyone.
That is why Willis doubled down and warned, “He wants to be remembered as the best baseball player of all time and he continues to trend that way as long as he stays healthy. Now the problem is—you cannot lose him. There’s no such thing as a third Tommy John—and that’s the scary part.” While his comeback has been nothing short of electric, the veteran’s statement hangs heavy. Ohtani has already gone through UCL surgery and missed almost two seasons recovering—any repeat injury could be career-altering.
The cautionary tale comes at a time when the star is firing on all cylinders. Ohtani guides the NL in homers, carries a 2.0 bWAR and a .633 slugging percentage. However, Willis’s thoughts do add a layer that numbers do not capture. “So you’re seeing his velocity uptick right now, you’re excited about that… but Dave Roberts loses him not only on the mound and in the lineup, I don’t believe they’re the best team in the National League,” the former Reds star said. The implication is clear: Ohtani’s greatness isn’t just a resource—it is the Dodgers’ base.
That is exactly why this “slow-play” approach could be the only card worth playing. As Willis said, “They’re going to slow-play him very much.” Because, as dominant as Shohei has looked, the star is still human and unicorns can also break if pushed too far. While Willis’ statement urges the Dodgers to tread effectively with their two-way star, the legend of Ohtani only continues to grow—proving that the largest risks carry the brightest rewards.
Shohei Ohtani’s journey to silence the skeptics
Before he became the face of baseball in the USA, there were loud whispers of doubt surrounding Ohtani’s transition to MLB. Despite his jaw-dropping data in Japan’s NPB, some—containing fellow stars—questioned whether Shohei could replicate that level of dominance on the “superior” MLB stage. Former All-Star Carlos Estévez also admitted, “That’s a big surprise. Even when he came over to the league, there was a lot of doubt, and us as players kind of thought that it would be hard for him.”
However, Ohtani did not just rise to the occasion—the star redefined it. This season alone, Shohei has not only launched a league-best 29 home runs with a .287/.388/.633 slash line, however, he has also tied a Willie Mays record—becoming the first star since 1954 to record more than 28 home runs and six triples in the first 80 games.
That is not all. Estévez, now fully convinced and marveled at Shohei’s intensity, saying, “He had Tommy John and won a World Series. Now, he debuted on the mound in the biggest stage… How can you do that? 100 mph right away. Come on.” Those are not just numbers, they are statements. As the star piles up accolades and rare feats, he is also rewriting the thought that once doubted him, proving that unicorns could be mythical however, in MLB, they wear No. 17 for the Dodgers.
Shohei Ohtani’s brilliance is both a blessing and a burden for the Dodgers. While his two-way dominance fuels championship hopes, MLB voices like Dontrelle Willis are right to call for caution. The stakes are sky-high-and one misstep could cost everything. The Dodgers must protect their unicorn. Stay tuned; legacy is on the line.
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