In many regards, it’s impossible to compare current Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani with players whose careers took place about 100 years ago.
This is why every comparison between Ohtani and Babe Ruth is tricky and not always fair.
For the sake of keeping the argument alive, however, let’s dive in and point out a few stats that show just how unique Ohtani is.
He is not only a world-class athlete, but he is doing things nobody has done before – not even Ruth.
“Through 737 career MLB games: Babe Ruth —> 177 home runs, 499 Ks pitching. Shohei Ohtani —> 182 home runs, 608 Ks pitching,” Codify Baseball tweeted.
Through 737 career MLB games:
Babe Ruth —> 177 home runs, 499 Ks pitching
Shohei Ohtani —> 182 home runs, 608 Ks pitching pic.twitter.com/BH84BWgyK8— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 7, 2024
We often hear that direct comparisons between the two mega-stars from different times are hard to take seriously because of a myriad of reasons.
However, it’s impossible to overlook the fact that the competition Ruth faced was not as strong as Ohtani’s.
The game, and the league, were just not as developed as they are now.
Things are much more specialized and professional these days.
However, Ruth was in many ways ahead of his time: he was a man amongst boys, and a true star on the mound and at the plate.
The same can be said about Ohtani, and the stats, at least the home run and strikeout totals, confirm our suspicions: the Japanese superstar is in a league of his own.
There is a reason why the Dodgers will pay him $700 million to play for them for the next 10 years: he is not only special, but also unique in many levels.
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Shohei Ohtani Is On A Must-See Pace In Several Categories
