Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Disrespected on ESPN's Top 100 Players List

ESPN leaves the two-way superstar out of the top five in their MLB player rankings.

The Los Angeles Dodgers added the best free agent on the market this offseason in two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.

While Ohtani will only be utilizing one of his talents this year as he rehabs his torn UCL, he's still set to be one of the best hitters in baseball.

Ohtani is undoubtedly one of the best players in baseball, if not the best, but ESPN seems to think otherwise. ESPN released their Top 100 players in MLB and ranked Ohtani not one, two, or three but at No. 9. 

9.

Shohei Ohtani

, DH, Los Angeles Dodgers

Ohtani's OPS jumped 191 points from 2022 to 2023, all the way up to a major league-leading 1.066. He added 44 homers and drove in 95 runs for an Angels team that oftentimes gave him very little support. Now he'll hit between Betts and Freeman, two perennial MVPs in their own right, and he won't have to think about pitching until 2025. Is it possible for Ohtani to reach yet another level offensively? Yep.

—ESPN

In what world is Ohtani the ninth-best player in the league? 

The 29-year-old won't be pitching this season, and even with that being the case, he's still among the best sluggers and hitters in the league. He could explode for a homer at any at-bat and is in a league of his own at the plate. 

In 2023, Ohtani led the majors with a .654 slugging percentage and 1.066 OPS. He also led the American League with 44 home runs despite having just 599 plate appearances.

The two-time AL MVP is easily the best player on the Dodgers, and that's no offense to Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman. Ohtani is why they are favorites to win the World Series, according to FanDuel, and why there is so much hype and anticipation toward the Boys in Blue. 

Ohtani, outside of the top five, is a crime within itself. It will take an insane offensive season for Ohtani to win his third MVP and first in the National League. However, he's more than capable of doing so with all his focus on offense in 2024. 

There is no way eight guys are ahead of Ohtani in the league. There may not even be one.