The 2025 Golden State Warriors are off to a scorching start, boasting a 4-2 record and showing no signs of slowing down. At the heart of their early success is Brandin Podziemski, the dynamic guard who’s become a cornerstone off the bench in the Warriors’ backcourt. Podziemski has blossomed into a reliable NBA talent with star potential, but his roots trace back to a different diamond altogether—baseball was his first love before he pivoted to hoops in high school.
In a captivating feature story dropped by The Athletic’s Warriors beat writer Nick Friedell on Friday, Podziemski opened up about his enduring passion for baseball. The piece dives deep into how he honed his skills on the field long before draining threes at the Chase Center. But it’s one jaw-dropping quote that’s exploding across social media, leaving fans and pundits alike in disbelief. Podziemski boldly claimed he could’ve been MLB’s next two-way sensation, drawing a direct line to the legendary Shohei Ohtani.
“I think I could be the white Shohei [Ohtani],” Podziemski confessed to The Athletic. “I think I could do both. Maybe not to the degree he can do it, but I think I could for sure do both. Pitch, play the field, hit, all those things.”
Talk about confidence! While Podziemski hasn’t laced up cleats competitively since high school, he’s kept his baseball flame alive in the spotlight. Back in 2023, he tossed out the ceremonial first pitch at a San Francisco Giants game, and word is the radar gun clocked it at a blistering 86 mph—impressive for a hoops guy. Then, in 2024, he stepped up to the plate during batting practice at Oracle Park and crushed a home run, turning heads and fueling whispers of untapped potential.
Sure, those flashes of brilliance are fun anecdotes, but let’s pump the brakes before crowning him Ohtani’s heir. There’s a Grand Canyon-sized gap between backyard bombs and dominating the majors like the Dodgers’ unicorn, who’s redefining what’s possible in baseball.
To put Podziemski’s claims in perspective, rewind to his final varsity season in 2019 at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin. He suited up for 11 games, taking the mound in five. As a pitcher, he posted a 2-3 record over 22.2 innings, surrendering 15 runs (14 earned, good for a 4.32 ERA), 26 hits, and nine walks. But here’s the bright spot: he fanned 40 batters, including three outings with double-digit strikeouts—proof of some serious heat in his arm.
At the dish, Podziemski was even more electric, slashing .469 with 15 hits in 32 at-bats, including three doubles, two triples, and 10 RBIs. Solid numbers for a high schooler, no doubt, but a far cry from Ohtani’s otherworldly stats.
Fast-forward to today, and Podziemski is channeling that same audacious spirit on the hardwood. After a sluggish start to the season, a pep talk from head coach Steve Kerr lit a fire under him, culminating in his best game yet in the Warriors’ latest outing. As Golden State pushes for more wins, Podziemski’s baseball bravado adds a layer of intrigue to his rising NBA story—proving that sometimes, the boldest dreams make the best headlines.