Is Shohei Ohtani the Greatest of All Time?
Shohei Ohtani is often celebrated as the standout player of his generation, but the question remains: could he be the greatest of all time?
Recently, CC Sabathia appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” and expressed his strong belief that Ohtani is the best player ever.
When asked about the number of aspiring major leaguers who might emulate Ohtani’s two-way style, Sabathia shared his surprise at the lack of them, especially given the talented two-way players in college baseball.
“It seems like this might be the only time we see someone like Shohei as the greatest baseball player ever. He’s the only one doing it at this level,” Sabathia pointed out.
After Sabathia’s bold claim, Patrick, momentarily taken aback, asked, “So you really think he’s the greatest player of all time?” To which Sabathia confidently replied, “I think he already is.”
Patrick then pressed further, “The best ever?” And Sabathia countered, “Which player would you consider better?”
Patrick argued for Babe Ruth, highlighting Ruth’s impressive stats with 94 wins and 714 home runs. However, Sabathia countered that today’s athletes are bigger, faster, and stronger, making modern competition incredibly tough.
Aside from Ruth, another figure mentioned in the conversation is Barry Bonds, celebrated as one of the best in modern history, with multiple MVP titles and the record for home runs.
Since his MLB debut in 2018, Ohtani has made a significant mark, earning accolades like the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year, multiple MVP awards, and a remarkable record as a two-way player, which may very well lead him to the Hall of Fame.
Despite facing challenges, including undergoing two Tommy John surgeries that affected his pitching career, Ohtani remains active. In his ninth season, he’s recorded 73 strikeouts and boasts a leading earned run average of 1.50, positioning him as a top contender for the National League Cy Young Award.
“He’s one of the best hitters and pitchers in the league,” Sabathia noted. “For me, the greatest of all time will always be Barry Bonds. He holds that title, but Barry can’t match the seven shutouts.”
