NEW YORK -- Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels' two-way sensation, has been chosen for the first time by Time magazine for its annual list of the 100 influential people.
In the U.S. magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2021 list released on Wednesday, the major league star was given a tribute penned by Alex Rodriguez, who hit 696 home runs in his professional career with the New York Yankees among other teams. The retired baseball star hailed Ohtani's skill on the mound, coupled with his dominance at the plate, saying, "[E]ven Babe Ruth wasn't stealing 20-plus bases, hitting 40-plus homers ... in the same season."
Rodriguez also described Ohtani as a gentleman, adding that he is "great with the media and fans too."
Meanwhile, tennis star Naomi Osaka was featured on the list for the third consecutive year for highlighting the importance of athletes' mental health by revealing that she has been struggling with depression.
Architect Kengo Kuma was another Japanese who was recognized on the list, for his role in designing the New National Stadium, the main venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
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