Shohei Ohtani is preparing to contest Game 7 of the World Series as the Los Angeles Dodgers chase back-to-back titles, but Brandin Podziemski believes he could have imitated the two-way star
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski sensationally claimed he could have been the “white Shohei Ohtani” as the Dodgers chase a second successive World Series.
The 2025 MLB season will conclude with a dramatic Game 7 of the World Series between the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. On Friday night, the Dodgers stunned the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, defeating Toronto 3-1 on the road to force Game 7.
Los Angeles is looking to repeat its 2024 World Series win, while the Blue Jays are aiming to secure their first MLB championship since 1993. Ohtani has played a crucial role, and the two-way phenom could yet be decisive.
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts could place Ohtani on the mound from the start of the pivotal Game 7. The 31-year-old would have had three days’ rest, having pitched in Game 4, throwing 93 pitches over six innings.
He’s also a threat with the bat in his hand. Through the six games of the World Series, Ohtani has a .318 average with seven hits, three home runs, five RBI, and six runs.
Hailed as one of the most impressive athletes in the world, Ohtani is a generational athlete. But Podziemski believes he could have imitated the Japanese superstar had he swapped the diamond for the court.
Podziemski played baseball growing up but stuck with basketball, and has emerged as a solid role player with the Warriors. When discussing his experience, he made the outlandish claim that he could have imitated Ohtani.
“I think I could be the white Shohei (Ohtani),” Podziemski told The Athletic. “I think I could do both.
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“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.”
The 22-year-old is enjoying a fine start to the 2025-26 NBA season, averaging 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. The Warriors are 4-2.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Ohtani’s Dodgers against the Blue Jays on Saturday. If he doesn’t start, it’s unlikely he’d be used as a relief pitcher, as it would mean Ohtani would be swapped out as DH.
Speaking about his and the Dodgers mindset heading into Game 7, Roberts also admitted that Los Angeles will be leaving everything out there in their pursuit of history. He told reporters: “I feel great. I feel great. We’re just, it’s, we’re going to leave it out there. I don’t think that the pressure, the moment’s going to be too big for us.
“We got to go out there and win one baseball game. We’ve done that all year. Everyone’s bought in. So I don’t know how the game’s going to play out, but as far as kind of the moment, winning a game, I couldn’t be more excited to get to sleep and wake up to play a baseball game tomorrow.”
The Dodgers face the Blue Jays in Game 7 at the Rogers Center on Saturday, Nov. 1.
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