Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers' Hype is Like Michael Jordan or 80s Lakers, Says Dave Roberts

Shohei Ohtani has been arguably the best player in Major League Baseball over the last few seasons, but his superstar status has seemingly reached new heights since signing a record-setting contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The hype surrounding Ohtani is so great that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was inclined to compare it to the publicity some of the world's greatest icons have received over the years.

"I wasn't around the Beatles," Roberts said, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. "I wasn't around Michael Jordan, or the Lakers in the '80s. But I think that what we're coming up upon is going to be close to that.

"I think it's great for sports. I think it's great for baseball. And I think it's great for the Dodgers. There's a lot of eyeballs on us. It's going to be a fun season."

Jordan remains one of the most significant figures in all of sports and he's considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time.

The Chicago Bulls legend, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, won six NBA titles, six Finals MVP awards, 10 scoring titles, five MVP awards and earned 14 All-Star selections during his historic career.

The 1980s Lakers are viewed in a similar light, having won five NBA titles behind the likes of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy between 1980 and 1988.

The hype surrounding Ohtani in Dodger blue is so great that ticket sales and prices have soared to new heights ahead of 2024 Opening Day.

The average StubHub ticket price for the Dodgers' home opener is $533, according to Shaikin. StubHub has also sold more tickets for the Dodgers than any other MLB team this season.

Ohtani, 29, is already considered one of the greatest players to ever step foot on a baseball field.

The two-way phenom made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Los Angeles Angels and went on to be named American League Rookie of the Year. Since then, he has won two AL MVP awards, two Silver Sluggers and a Major League Player of the Year award.

Ohtani, who is also a three-time All-Star, won his second AL MVP award in three seasons during the 2023 campaign despite missing time with an elbow injury.

The native of Japan hit .304/.412/.654 with 44 home runs, 95 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 135 games. He also went 10-5 on the mound with a 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings across 23 starts.

Ohtani won't pitch for the Dodgers in 2024 after undergoing elbow surgery, but his star power at the plate should be more than enough to help L.A. contend for another World Series title.