In the summer of 2018, a man decked out in Dodger Blue walks into a bar in downtown Los Angeles and sees his long-lost pal wearing his Angels gear.

“Who’s that new guy from Japan that the Angels have? Are we talking about the next Mike Trout here?” 

“Oh, Shohei Ohtani? Yeah, I heard he’s supposed to be something special. I wouldn’t go that far though. Mike Trout is generational. The Angels won’t see a player like him come through the system anytime soon. I mean, Shohei hits and pitches so he can’t be that good at both… Right?” 

Shohei Ohtani did indeed go that far, and beyond. Starting out in Anaheim, Ohtani was considered a freak of nature, but not the kind of guy that would cause people to sit down and ask: “Are we witnessing the greatest baseball player to ever play the game?”

In baseball, batters don’t pitch (unless their team is being blown out, and they want to save relief pitchers) and pitchers don’t hit (as of 2022 when the national league started implementing a designated hitter). Ohtani is an exception, however, as he both hits, and pitches at an elite level (when healthy of course).

Ohtani is a unicorn in the game of baseball. He is your ace pitcher that can also hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bags for you in a season.

Ohtani was given a 700-million-dollar contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, which at the time was the largest contract ever signed by a professional athlete. The already talent-packed Dodger team went on to win 98 games and ultimately a World Series title. Along the way, Ohtani was the centerpiece in their lineup, driving in runs while getting protection from players like Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy. 

Not only did Ohtani win a World Series in his first year with his new club, but he also became one of only 2 players to win a Most Valuable Player award in both the American and National Leagues along with Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. 

When talking about the greatest baseball players of all time, there isn’t a clear number one like other sports. There is no Gretzky. There is no Brady. The debate isn’t even between two players like Lebron and Jordan. But just because it is up for debate doesn’t mean there has been any lack of talent; there is no doubt that Major League Baseball has seen some magnificent players throughout its history. 

Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, and Hank Aaron are just some of the players that you can make a case for. And aside from the Sultan of Swat who did it for just around half his career, (fact check) none of these guys played on both sides of the ball. There have been hitters over the years that have truly dominated the game and pitchers as well, but one athlete has never been able to do both at a given moment like Ohtani. 

Additionally, the game has grown so much over the years and players have been getting more and more explosive as time goes on. Pitchers are throwing harder and putting more spin on the ball, and hitters are hitting the ball with record high exit velocities. According to an article published by Baseball America called “The Measure of a Fastball Has Changed Over the Years,” the average fastball in MLB has gone from under 92 mph in 2002 to over 94 mph in 2023. Ohtani is playing in the “Golden Age” of MLB, and those in the GOAT conversation didn’t see pitches with nearly as much velocity as in 2002, let alone 2023. Whether it be the Padres lineup that Ohtani has to carve up or the flame throwing relievers like Josh Hader who Ohtani has to face when he steps in the box, players like Willie Mays and Babe Ruth were never put in the position that Ohtani is in when he goes to work every day. 

Another thing to consider is the pressure put on Ohtani. Psychologically, playing with a 700-million-dollar contract isn’t easy, especially with the entire city of Los Angeles expecting Ohtani to blow other teams out of the water single handedly. Ohtani doesn’t succumb to the pressure and carries out his fans’ expectations. He is a clutch hitter in high stress situations, which is a major factor when considering who the greatest baseball player of all time is. He did it during the regular season, and even when he couldn’t pitch, he gave the Dodgers the extra boost that they needed in the playoffs. 

The one thing holding back Ohtani is that he is injury prone. If Ohtani could stay on the field for 140-150 games a year, we would be witnessing an even bigger beast. But how much can you impact the game if you aren’t playing? Ohtani has dealt with a serious shoulder injury that caused him to play gingerly throughout the end of the 2024 postseason. Ohtani’s underlying elbow concerns also prevented him from pitching for the entire 2024 season. Ohtani has dealt a myriad other minor injuries throughout his career, causing him to miss significant time. It isn’t necessarily Ohtani’s fault that he keeps getting hurt, since it’s what he signs up for when he decides to throw gas, ferociously swing, and steal over 40 bags a year. He is putting his body under a ton of stress, and he has twice the chance of hurting his body as any other player. 

There is no question that Ohtani is getting the attention he deserves. Baseball fans across Japan and America are drooling over every one of Ohtani’s appearances when he comes to their city. He sells out crowds not only for the Dodgers, but for the opposing teams as well. Baseball fans know what they are watching, and they aren’t taking it for granted. 

In my eyes, Shohei Ohtani is the most talented player to ever play the game of baseball. Is he the greatest hitter ever? No. The greatest pitcher ever? Not even close. But the fact that he can do both at such a high level for his team makes his value on the field go through the roof.

Now the only hole in this argument is the lack of longevity in Shohei Ohtani’s already illustrious career. Ohtani has dominated Major League Baseball for seven years, one of which was the shortened 2020 season. And although Ohtani is raising the bar for future Major Leaguers by changing the standard, seven years is normally not enough to call someone the greatest of all time. This is because longevity is a key element in determining if a player is the best to ever do it, and usually longevity ensures that someone has dominated their era. Ohtani is an exception, however. Baseball fans can confidently say that Ohtani has dominated his era in multiple aspects of the game.

Shohei Ohtani is the greatest baseball player to ever walk this Earth and that won’t change anytime soon. Every time Ohtani steps onto the mound or in the box, he not only raises eyebrows in the stadium, but also across the globe. His talent being displayed every night constantly sends his fans in both the U.S. and back home in Iwate, Japan, into a frenzy. Ohtani jerseys flood the streets and there is a constant surge in teams’ attendance when the Dodgers are on the road because everyone wants to see #17 do what he does.

Now all we have left to do as fans, analysts, and reporters is sit back, relax, and enjoy the Sho.

If Shohei Ohtani could stay on the field for 140-150 games a year, we would be witnessing an even bigger beast. But how much can you impact the game if you aren’t playing?