Shohei Ohtani is the modern-day Babe Ruth. But he’s also a total babe. People Magazine’s 2023 list of the most charming men in sports, issued on Wednesday, included the baseball unicorn as one of three MLB stars.
Former Dodgers teammates Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger joined Ohtani. Ohtani was named No. 15 on the list of 21 sports studs, barely ahead of Betts and Bellinger, who were ranked 16 and 17, respectively.
Last year, Ohtani aided his cause with a fashion Sho for GQ, which featured him on the cover in a cropped sweater vest. Other photographs within the issue showed him lifting weights and performing pushups in the locker area. Betts was featured in GQ in 2021.
Ohtani, Betts, and Bellinger, on the other hand, still have something to aim for. Last year, Yankees batter Aaron Judge was voted one of People magazine’s Charming Men Alive, alongside George Clooney, The Rock, and Chris Evans.
It’s difficult to argue with No. 1 on People’s 2023 list of athletes, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, whose developing romance with music megastar Taylor Swift has captivated the sports world’s attention. Kelce attended a Phillies home playoff game last month with his brother Jason, an Eagles offensive lineman who ranks second on this list, and he was seen on the jumbotron during Game 1 of the World Series in Arlington.
Perhaps Travis will scout the competition for the 2024 Most Charming Men in Sports list in the stands of… whichever stadium Shohei plays in next year.