Shohei Ohtani has established himself as one of the greatest two-way players in MLB history with his ability to hit and pitch at the highest level.
Elsewhere in sports, Travis Hunter has emerged as star on both sides of the football field. The 21-year-old excelled as a wide receiver and cornerback for the Colorado Buffaloes this past college football season en route to winning the Heisman Trophy.
Hunter is now projected to be a top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, which will be held in Green Bay, Wis., from April 24-26.
During a media session at the NFL Combine last week, Hunter expressed his belief of being a two-way player in football is more difficult than Ohtani doing so in baseball, via Yahoo Sports:
“Probably me, with what I do in football. Because it’s a lot on your body. Ohtani, he’s a great player, but you’ve got to do a lot in football.”
There’s no denying that playing both sides of the football field can be physically strenuous and requires extra preparation. However, Ohtani’s contributions as a two-way player shouldn’t be overlooked either.
The three-time MVP is arguably the only athlete in the world who can throw a baseball 100 mph and consistently register an exit velocity of the same speed. Not to mention Ohtani also is capable of stealing bases at a high rate.
Ohtani has to endure rigorous training to prepare for the grueling demands of a 162-game season as a two-way player. He is set to return to the mound this year after exclusively serving as the Dodgers’ designated hitter last season.
Deion Sanders, who coached Hunter in college, was a multi-sport athlete and once said that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do.
Travis Hunter’s 2024 season
Hunter caught 92 passes for 1,152 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns with the Buffaloes last season. As a cornerback, he recorded 31 tackles, four interceptions and 15 passes defensed.
In addition to winning the Heisman Trophy, Hunter was the 2024 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and also took home the Walter Camp, Chuck Bednarik and Fred Biletnikoff Awards.
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