Giants pitcher Alex Cobb predicts Shohei Ohtani is ‘coming to San Francisco’

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb put up a scoreless inning during the All-Star Game Tuesday. But it was what he said about Shohei Ohtani that has caught people by surprise.

The right-handed arm made an outlandish prediction after the game, saying that the Japanese sensation would be heading to the Bay Area in the near future.

“He’s not coming to Seattle,” Cobb told reporters after the All-Star Game, via Evan Webeck of the San Jose Mercury News. “Ichiro’s already got his stamp on here. He needs a new place.

“He’s coming to San Francisco.”

While there have been no reports of Ohtani considering the Orange & Black as a destination, it’s interesting to say the least that a current player thinks it will happen. Cobb even took it a step further, stating that the Japanese dual-threat player would be an even bigger attraction than New York Yankee outfielder Aaron Judge.

John Lund says if the Giants can land Ohtani at the deadline, it's worth selling the farm:

"It could be Patrick Bailey, and Harrison, and Wisenhunt, and Schmitt and Matos…Even if he's just a rental, you get half a year to try and convince him to stay." pic.twitter.com/UpcVWfzeRj

— KNBR (@KNBR) July 12, 2023

“Whatever you thought [Aaron] Judge would’ve been as the face of the Giants, he would eclipse that with the whole country,” Cobb stated. “You look for people to be the face of your franchise, not only as skilled, but off the field who they are…

“I’ve never been around somebody who wants to win more than Shohei. I would love to say I want to win as much as anybody. But he will do anything to win…Just watching in awe of everything he did and how good of a person he is and how humble of a person he is, it makes it really special.”

Shohei Ohtani, 29, has been on a tear this season, batting .302 with 32 home runs and counting. He has also been a lights out pitcher, throwing 100 innings with a 3.32 ERA and 132 strikeouts. The pitcher is 7-4 as a starter, named to his third straight All-Star team this season.

He is in the final year of his arbitration, making him an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 season.

While it remains to be seen what Ohtani does, Cobb is clearly an admirer of the stud ball player.

“I’d be thrilled if there was some avenue for us to get him at the deadline and sign him long-term,” Cobb added. “But if not at the deadline, then during this offseason.”

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