The baseball world might be divided on many things, but on Shohei Ohtani—most definitely not! Almost every baseball fan can agree that when it comes to the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar, he is a one-of-a-kind player. The man broke records no one thought possible. And in his first run at the postseason, he ended up with rings.
How many players in the MLB can flaunt that?
Not many, you bet. And mostly, the global fans he has rooting for him are massive! Here’s to all who said the Dodgers were fools to invest $700 million in one player—they made all the money in a single year. Ohtani is the show. Everyone wants to watch him. Not just fans but even fellow players. Take, for example, Dylan Campbell. The Philadelphia Phillies acquired him from LA, and he is in absolute awe of Ohtani.
Campbell, in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, admitted that while he respects Ohtani’s achievements, he knows better than to have a desire to replicate them. Campbell said to ES, “Yeah, I mean, that’s something that’s never been done before. I think the 50 stolen bases is attainable for me, but 50 home runs? That’s insane. That’s next level. I’m sure that’s what every minor league player wants to reach, but at the end of the day, you have to take that for what it is and be yourself.”
Refreshing honesty. Self-awareness is a rare trait in young athletes, but Campbell embraces it.
“It would be stupid for me to try and be Shohei Ohtani because I’m definitely not. So for me, it’s about being myself and trying to help the team win in any way I can.”
And at just 22, he’s already proving to be a talent worth keeping an eye on.
He was first drafted by the LA Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Texas. He hit .251 with 10 home runs, and he clinched 42 stolen bases. That’s how he was saying 50 is something he can see himself doing. And now he is with the Philadelphia Phillies but keeps no bad blood for the Dodgers.
Right now, Campbell’s well-rounded skill set can definitely make him a valuable addition to the farm system of the Philadelphia Phillies. He brings in speed, and he is also very disciplined. And these traits can go a long way. As far as the Dodgers go, he sure had his fair share of gala time and even hung out with the superstars!
Campbell is surrounded by elite stars in the Philadelphia Phillies
Before landing in Philadelphia, though, Campbell had a great time with the LA Dodgers. He was all positive about their player development system and more. He even shared the instance where he trained with one of the best players in the game right now—Mookie Betts. And he made sure it was a session he took full advantage of. “It was a great session—we did a lot of defense and talked about some hitting stuff. Overall, it was just a great time. Mookie was one of the players I looked up to.” Campbell also drew a comparison with the Dodgers superstar.
“I feel like our games are a little similar. He came up as an infielder, moved to the outfield, and then moved back into the infield.” For him, Mookie Betts is a player who can impact the game in so many ways and someone he can watch and learn from. But this is what’s passed him; now, he is excited for what’s next to come.
Because even at the Philadelphia Phillies, Dylan Campbell is surrounded by stars and big names. When asked by EssentiallySports who he’d love to take batting practice with, he didn’t hesitate. He had the names at the tip of his tongue: “Being on the Phillies now, Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, or Bryson Stott would be great choices.” He watched a lot of Stott’s swing in college, and it helped him a lot, apparently, so him for sure. While that’s one of his goals, he also wishes that, for the most part, he remains healthy.
And what a smart and mature answer! The young outfielder knows that organizations, when picking players, look at the history of injuries. “If you have a long injury history, it can hold you back,” he said.
In a Phillies organization known for developing players the right way, Campbell is in the perfect spot to keep growing. Could he be the next breakout star? Time will tell. But one thing is certain—he’s not trying to be Shohei Ohtani or Mookie Betts. Dylan Campbell is set on being the best version of himself.
What do you think? Does he have the potential to be a future MLB star? Let us know in the comments!
The post EXCLUSIVE: Shohei Ohtani’s Impeccable 50–50 Feat Stuns Top Phillies Prospect as He Admits Trying to Emulate Would Be ‘Stupid’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.