Shohei Ohtani Is The Greatest Player Ever

The debate about baseball's greatest player has raged for generations, with names like Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Barry Bonds dominating the conversation. But Shohei Ohtani isn't just joining this debate—he's rewriting the entire discussion. His unprecedented combination of elite hitting and pitching makes him not just a great player, but arguably the greatest the sport has ever seen.

Historic Offensive Dominance

Ohtani's recent offensive output places him among the most elite hitters in baseball history. In 2023, he slashed .304/.412/.654 with 44 home runs and 95 RBIs, posting an OPS+ of 184. His 2024 season was even more spectacular: a .310/.390/.646 line with a staggering 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases—becoming the first player ever to join the 50-50 club, good for an OPS+ of 190. His 2025 campaign remained elite with a .282/.381/.612 line, launching 55 home runs with 102 RBIs and an OPS+ of 177.

These numbers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest offensive seasons ever recorded. Barry Bonds' legendary 2004 season posted an OPS+ of 263, but Ohtani's 2024 campaign compares favorably to Bonds' 2003 (198 OPS+) and rivals Mickey Mantle's 1957 MVP season (195 OPS+). Ted Williams' 1941 season, when he hit .406, yielded an OPS+ of 235, but Ohtani's three-year average OPS+ of 175 exceeds what most Hall of Famers achieved in their peak seasons.

When you compare Ohtani's 2023-2025 stretch to other all-time great three-year peaks, he holds his own: Babe Ruth's 1926-1928 averaged around 206 OPS+, while Willie Mays' 1963-1965 peak averaged approximately 170 OPS+. Ohtani's three-year average OPS+ of 184 sits comfortably among this elite company—and that's before considering his pitching.

The Unprecedented Two-Way Factor

What elevates Ohtani beyond comparison isn't just his hitting—it's that he delivers this offense while also being an ace-caliber pitcher. Before his 2023 injury, he posted a 3.14 ERA with 167 strikeouts in 132 innings in 2023, and in 2022, he went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts. No player since Babe Ruth has even attempted this dual dominance, let alone achieved it at this level.

Ruth himself transitioned from pitching to hitting because doing both was considered impossible. Ohtani has proven it's not just possible—it's a path to greatness that transcends traditional measures. When you're delivering MVP-caliber production as both a hitter and pitcher simultaneously, you're not just the best player in baseball. You're the greatest player the game has ever seen.