Is It Crazy To Say You Would Take Gunnar Henderson Over Shohei Ohtani?

Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.

Is that crazy to say? It can't be, right? Because there are some bigggg names in baseball who are saying it. Brian Kenny, Mad Dog Russo (BUM), and RDT. Those 3 guys all know ball and are now all on the record as saying they would take Orioles phenom shortstop Gunnar Henderson over Shohei Ohtani right now. That's how good Gunnar is. The more I think about it the more and more it makes sense to me, and if you've paid attention to Gunnar this season it should make sense to you. He's playing out of his mind right now. 

I think Shohei Ohtani is the most talented player we've ever seen play the game of baseball…..and right now I'd still take Gunnar Henderson over him. I don't think you can even say it's a homer pick either, it was legitimately talked about and agreed upon by 2 major baseball analysts on their network! That is how god damn good Gunnar is. 

Listen to Kenny and Mad Dog gushhhhhh over Gunnar. They are basically foaming at the mouth while talking about him. He's 22, he's a legit 5 tool player who is still somehow getting better and really not close to his prime. He's hitting at an incredible level, he makes every play on defense, he's barreling every ball, he's taking extra bases, he's stealing bases, and did I mention he's 22? Hitting .309, third in baseball with 8 homers, 20 driven in (because he's been hitting leadoff), 5 stolen bags, a 1.022 OPS and some incredible defensive plays from the shortstop position. 5.Tool.Player. He's the real deal. The entire package and more. He also may be the best base runner in baseball, the way he goes 1st to 3rd makes me blush. Fangraphs has him tied with Mookie in WAR at 1.9. Again, he's 22. MLB is in great hands with this young group of shortstops with Gunnar, Bobby Witt Jr, Elly de la Cruz, Oneil Cruz, and C.J. Abrams but I think Gunnar edges them out. 

Ohtani is a unicorn too, he's a one of a kind player, but not this year. Obviously due to his Tommy John surgery he isn't on the mound, so taking Gunnar over a DH is the right move. This year he's worth more to his team than Shohei is. And you won't find a bigger Shohei guy than me, but you can't take him over Gunnar. Factor in the age, the injury, it just doesn't make sense. 

Now you look at Ohtani's Baseball Savant page and it's stupid. It doesn't look real. There shouldn't be that many 99s and 100s, it's unreal. Of course he's having another incredible year. 6th in runs with 22, 2nd in hits with 39, 1st in doubles with 14, 6 HRs, 13 driven in, 3rd in average at .358, and a .419 OBP. He's great, no way around it. But right now, for this year if you get to pick between these 2 guys to start a squad, it has to be Gunnar. 

Advertisement

Premium position, gold glove defense up the middle, super young and already a bonafide superstar in the league? Has to be Gunnar. And I know it's like comparing apples to oranges here, but it was a conversation brought up so I wanted to weigh in. These guys are 2 of the bigger stars in the game so it's cool to have the debate, but again if it comes down to these 2 on my team for the 2024 season, Gunnar is the guy who is going to help your team the most. Has to be the leader for AL MVP right now and really showing no signs of slowing down. On pace for a 54/20/20 season too, obviously that won't happen but man he's incredible right now. He's going to put on a show the rest of the season too, he'll prove to everyone I'm not just a big homer. Gunnar is the real and I'd take him right meow over Ohanti. I said what I said.