“Like a Seasoned Player…”: Shohei Ohtani Shares High Praise as Top Rookie Exceeds Expectations With Rare Off-Field Skill

Rookies enter the league every year but only a select few leave a lasting impact on the minds of people. There were players like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani who hit the ground running and had breakout rookie years. Perhaps that’s why the two-way player tries to give words of encouragement to rookies. To get praised by one of the greatest players in modern baseball is the biggest stamp of approval that anyone can get.

Shohei Ohtani recently gave an interview where he praised the winners of the MLB Player’s Choice Awards. He had a special mention for a Baltimore Orioles rookie who has had a historical breakout season as a standout star.

Shohei Ohtani Loves Gunnar Henderson’s Bat Swing

Gunnar Henderson started the season as the no.1 prospect in MLB. His potential was clear to everyone before his debut but like anyone adjusting to a new environment, the catcher took a few months to adjust to the majors. Once he found his groove though, Henderson was unstoppable. The rookie’s performances skyrocketed. with such an impact that he was named the Outstanding Rookie of the Year by MLBPA.

Shohei Ohtani was also all praises for the outfielder when congratulating him for the award. “The impression I get from him is that he has a beautiful, well-balanced swing.” But baseball’s unicorn was not done. “You played like a seasoned player and not a rookie. You had great leadership and a great season. It was really fun to watch. Congratulations again.”

Gunnar Henderson didn’t just have a good year but he had one of the greatest rookie years that a player has had for the Baltimore Orioles. He became the first rookie in O’s history to record 20+ Doubles, 5+ Triples, 20+ Homers, and 10+ Stolen bases in a season. All in all, the player batted with an average of .255 and hit a total of 28 Home runs in 2023.  All of this even makes him the front-runner for the American League Rookie of the Year award.

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Certainly, Henderson must be quite elated with the praises from the great Shohei Ohtani. Still, he’s not the only newcomer to leave his mark in MLB this season.

MLB’s Most Impactful Rookies of 2023

Apart from Henderson, there have been other remarkable newbies this year. Like the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll has had a season that only few can dream of. His contribution was a key reason for the underdog team to reach the World Series.

There’s also Cincinnat’s Elly De La Cruz or the Mets’ Kodai Senga. The Rangers’ Josh Jung and the Dodgers’ James Outman were equally standout players, although they didn’t receive as much time in the spotlight.

Now with the off-season in progress, the cycle will continue to run. New rookies will enter the scene hoping to leave the same impact as Henderson and Carroll have left. The players have sure been like magic.

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