GamingMLBBy Reice Shipley on

This morning it was announced the Los Angeles Angels dual-threat star outfielder and pitcher Shohei Ohtani will be the 2022 cover athlete for the MLB The Show video game.

Ohtani had a tremendous season last year, hitting 46 home runs with 100 RBIs while also going 9-2 as a starting pitcher with a 3.18 ERA in 23 starts. His excellence as both a pitcher and a hitter was enough to win the American League MVP this past season.

Ohtani is the first player we have seen in quite some time that has been a true star at all aspects of baseball. This latest accolade of being named the cover athlete for the MLB’s most profitable video game is an honor that no other Asian-born player has received.

The Angels star discussed what it meant to him, as well as what it could mean for the sport of baseball to be named the cover athlete.

“I’m sure there are fans that love to play the video game, but don’t actually watch the game,” said Ohtani. “Then the opposite, people that watch the game but don’t play the video game. I’m trying to bring back the popularity and set an example for those watching the game. Sony and San Diego Studios, they’re going the other route by making a video game trying to get the game popular that way. It’s a good combination, trying to bring the popularity back as a whole.”

Ohtani also added that he was honored to be named the first Asian athlete on the cover of MLB The Show.

He has been a star in the making for quite some time, but it is clear now that he is undoubtedly one of the faces of the sport. The Asian market has always been a huge focus for MLB, and to have someone with the skill level of Ohtani becoming more and more popular will do wonders for the sport as a whole.

[ESPN.com]

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.

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