Mexico manager Benji Gil gushes over Shohei Ohtani

Team Mexico manager and Los Angeles Angels infield coach Benji Gil has offered some high praise for two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. 

"I think they've nicknamed him the unicorn and it's so true," Gil said of Ohtani, per Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports. "I have all the respect in the world for (Angels slugger) Mike Trout and for all the other great stars in the game of baseball, but he's unique. He's different." 

Gil spoke after Ohtani helped Team Japan turn a 5-4 deficit into a 6-5 victory in the World Baseball Classic semifinal showdown Monday evening. As Jeff Passan of ESPN explained, Ohtani's leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth inning sparked Japan's rally. Ohtani and Japan will now face Trout and the United States in the WBC final on Tuesday night. 

"He's not just the best baseball player in the world, he may be the greatest player in the world," Gil added about Ohtani. "I mean, he might be the greatest athlete ever."  

Ohtani earned American League Most Valuable Player honors for the 2021 season and then became the first player in the World Series era to qualify for the leaderboards both as a pitcher and a hitter for the same campaign in 2022. Some, perhaps even Ohtani, believe the 28-year and not Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees was the actual AL MVP last season. 

Meanwhile, Gil had to go to the world of football to come up with an adequate description for Ohtani.

"He plays two different sports. He really does," Gil said. "Because baseball pitcher and hitter are two different sports. It's like Lawrence Taylor and Joe Montana back then. He's basically Bo Jackson. You have to use two people to make an accurate comparison." 

Others within MLB clearly agree Ohtani is a once-in-a-generation talent and draw. Assuming he hits free agency following this coming season, which seems likely, it's believed Ohtani could sign a contract worth between $500M and $600M.