“Built the Same Way”: Scout Advises MLB Teams About Seiya Suzuki Being the Next Shohei Ohtani

Japanese players, Ichiro Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani have marked their names as the best players in Major League Baseball. Now, following in their footsteps, another Japanese player is set to make his debut in MLB in the upcoming season.

Same as Ohtani’s age, Seiya Suzuki has taken over the headlines after being drafted in MLB. While he’s yet to pick a team, his potential has already been weighed against Ohtani’s.

Former MLB player thinks Seiya has same qualities as Shohei Ohtani

Brad Eldred, who has previously played for the Detroit Tigers, is now part of Nippon Professional Baseball playing for Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Comparing Seiya’s skills with Ohtani, he said, “He’s not as tall as Ohtani but built the same way, same strong shoulders. He can hit. He can drive balls anywhere, out to dead center, out to right.”

”He doesn’t look fooled too often. And he’s got such a big, strong body that he should be durable. He’s not a leadoff-type guy who only hits for average. I’m looking forward to it. I’m biased, but whoever gets him is going to be lucky.”

Notably, Seiya has been on the radar of big MLB franchises like Yankees and Red Sox, as he comes with an exceptional nine years of experience from Japan.

Seiya wants to beat the best MLB players

Seiya made his goals clear about claiming his place on the top of the charts. “I want to be the top of the top,” he said.

However, addressing the fact that he’s in high demand, Seiya reveals he is confused about his future team. “I can’t stop thinking about which team to pick. I’m going to be honest with you: I’m still very confused. I can’t sleep every night because a lot of the teams hit my heart. I still have to give it a lot of thought,” Seiya said.

If Seiya is coming to MLB with such incredible stats, he’s undeniably going to be a threat to many current stars. While against each they’d make fierce rivals, do you think Seiya and Ohtani could end up on the same side in the future?

Read More: What Does Shohei Ohtani Think of Seiya Suzuki, the New Japanese MLB Prospect?