Shohei Ohtani is a once-in-a-lifetime talent with the ability to rake and hit bombs at the plate and the arm to dice up Major League Baseball hitters on the mound. Baseball fans, at least those that are alive today, have never seen anything like him.
Naturally, everyone in baseball is scouring the world looking for another phenom like him. So far, they haven’t found him. Yet.
One player, however, has been drawing Shohei Ohtani comparisons. His name is Haruki Komoda.
Who is Haruki Komoda and why are people comparing him to Shohei Ohtani?
Komoda, also from Japan like Ohtani, has a build a lot like the Dodgers star at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds. He also happens to be just 16-years-old.
He also happens to possess, according to several media reports, a 94 mph fastball and the ability to hit the ball like “a young Aaron Judge.” At least that’s how Mexican sports website ALBAT describes him.
“In a recent game, Komoda showcased his dominance on the mound by keeping his opponents at bay, allowing only two hits until the seventh inning,” reporter Alejandra M. Razo wrote. “It was a true pitching clinic, showing that this young man has the talent and mindset to shine on the biggest stages.
“Moreover, he led his team, Yamanashi Gakuin School, to victory in the Kanto Autumn Tournament final, standing out with five crucial hits. Despite being closely followed by more than ten Major League Baseball teams, Haruki Komoda has made a decision that could define his career: to start his professional journey in the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball).”
According to talkSPORT, Haruki Komoda, at the age of just 16, has already recorded hits traveling over 460 feet. Also, thus far in his high school career, he has launched at least 36 home runs.
Combine that with a 94 mph fastball on the mound, and it is little wonder why Major League Baseball teams like the New York Mets have reportedly sent scouts to Japan to watch Komoda play.