With the MLB World Series on the horizon, playoff baseball has a funny way of showcasing not just pure talent, but raw passion and love for the game. While we are still in the era of great players like Aaron Judge and José Ramírez, we are also seeing the emergence of new legends. Pass the crown to Shohei Ohtani as the new greatest player in baseball.
The first player in MLB history to have a 50/50, 50 runs and 50 stolen bases season in 2024, and most recently making his pitching debut, there is truly nothing that can slow Ohtani down. This year is the first time in league history that a designated hitter has started as a pitcher for a postseason game.
Ohtani’s skill is unprecedented, and a figure with this kind of talent hasn’t been seen since Babe Ruth, who today would be considered the all-around top dog of baseball. MLB stats claim Barry Bonds as the most skilled player of the game, with a career batting average of 0.298, just 0.016 off from Ohtani’s 0.282 batting average during his 12-year-long career.
MLB’s most recent best player survey was overwhelmingly in support of Ohtani, but we are always hesitant to crown a new “greatest of all time.” It’s important to recognize the players who built the game and broke through barriers for diversity and inclusion, but when it comes to skill, Ohtani clearly has everything it takes to secure the GOAT title.
Another important piece of legend status is a judgment of character. It’s hard to hate a nice guy, and Ohtani is a class act, grateful for his team and the opportunity to play in the National League. He has often been described as humble, and some might even call him “the nicest in the league.” The Los Angeles Angels’ third base coach, Dino Ebel, and Ohtani’s first MLB team said, “He’s just a genuine, great person.”
Ohtani came over from Japan after 5 seasons, which is a completely different shift of scenery for the sport, and he handled the move like a professional. A player’s move from Japan hasn’t been this hyped up since the 1990s, and his move increased viewership from both Japan and South Korea as a result.
His presence in the league also opens a gateway for more East Asian players to be welcomed into the National and American Leagues, making the league more inclusive for the future. With that comes the potential for more prodigy players like himself.
With a whopping 0.282 batting average, 55 home runs and 102 RBIs, the stats don’t lie either. Ohtani, nicknamed “Shotime,” is 6’3” and 210 lbs, can bat left and right-handed and is a decent pitcher. He’s a threat no matter where he is, at the plate or on the mound.
Ohtani, 31, is at the peak of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, already grabbing himself one ring and potentially on his way to back-to-back World Series wins if the team pulls through this October.
We hesitate to crown the best players because we don’t want to erode the history of players who came before them, but the facts are clear that Ohtani is clearly changing the game and owning the MLB.
Abby Jenkins is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Abby about her column? Email her at aj205621@ohio.edu.
