Better than Babe Ruth? Ohtani’s accomplishments make the superstar a legend, even among MLB peers

If baseball fans are lucky, Shohei Ohtani’s greatness in the batting cage and perhaps even on the pitcher’s mound will continue to be showcased for at least another decade.

But in the eyes of many, the 30-year-old is already on the shortlist of the greatest sporting legends of all time.

The Japanese superstar added another absurd feat to his list of achievements on Thursday by becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history to have 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a single season. He hit both marks in grand style, with his first game with three homers, his first game with six hits and a franchise- and career-record 10 RBIs in Miami.

“There’s definitely an argument to be made that he’s better than Babe Ruth,” Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo said Friday. “Everybody always talks about Babe Ruth and him being one of the greatest players in baseball, if not (the greatest) of all time.

“I think we’re playing with the modern-day Babe Ruth here.”

Ohtani is in just his eighth season in the big leagues after five years in Japan, but it’s questionable whether he’s made a name for himself in Cooperstown yet.

According to BetMGM, he is the heavy favorite to win his third Most Valuable Player award this season.

“I feel like his pace, I feel like his potential, it looks to be one of the best (careers) ever,” Astros outfielder Jason Heyward said. “Obviously, we all know as players that he’s got to keep playing and finish his career, but I feel like he has the potential to do a lot more special things and put up numbers that one day we’ll look at home and say, we don’t know if anybody can do that.”

Ohtani could add to his legend in the coming weeks when he makes his postseason debut. His Los Angeles Dodgers qualified for baseball in October with Thursday’s win and are among the favorites to win the World Series. There’s even a slim chance he could return to the mound during the postseason after midseason elbow surgery.

“We leave it up to others to determine who the greatest of all time are, but there’s no denying that what we’re seeing is incredibly special,” said Josh Rawitch, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “People are excited about what they’re seeing, and understandably so.”

It was around this time last season that Ohtani’s career took a huge hit. The two-way star was enjoying a phenomenal season for the Los Angeles Angels at the plate and on the mound when he suffered a torn ligament in his pitching elbow on August 23. That led to the second major surgery on his pitching elbow.

But the big-spending Dodgers weren’t deterred by the injury in free agency and were able to sign Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract, by far the most expensive contract in MLB history.

I can safely say that it has been worth it so far.

Because he can focus solely on hitting, Ohtani has had perhaps his best offensive season, hitting .294 with 51 homers and 120 RBIs, stealing 51 bases and being caught just four times.

Some, like Angels manager Ron Washington and Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck, said they would reserve judgment on Ohtani’s Cooperstown credentials until his career is over. But there’s little doubt he’s headed in the right direction.

“I’d like to see the full career,” Houck said. “But the milestones he’s had so far, and a historic season like this, he’s definitely the best player in the game right now.”

Washington said, “Let’s let his career develop and we’ll see where his numbers are. Certainly, if he stays healthy and he can play as long as he wants, he’ll be someone who’s definitely a Hall of Fame candidate.”

Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker, who competes with Ohtani in the NL West, says it’s easy to respect someone who works so hard.

“He seems to be doing his business the right way,” Walker said. “And in the spotlight that he is, that’s just so impressive, to keep a calm head and continue to perform at the level that’s expected of him. Huge market. Huge spotlight. And to be as consistent as he is, is impressive.”

Astros pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, who is also Japanese, said Ohtani has already established himself as one of the best.

“He’s probably on the verge of winning his third MVP and he’s done things that no other player has done, being a two-way player and getting 50/50,” Kikuchi said through an interpreter. “So it’s hard for me to judge, but I think he’s probably eligible for the Hall of Fame.”

For those baseball fans who like advanced stats, Ohtani has 42.3 career WAR according to baseball-reference.com, which isn’t a bad number. Most Hall of Famers have at least 50-60 WAR.

But the uniqueness of Ohtani’s career — particularly his status as arguably the greatest two-way player of all time — means he could hang up his bat and glove today and likely breeze into the Hall of Fame.

“It’s hard to say no,” Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski said. “I know it’s still early. I think he’s got average years the rest of his career, and he’s a Hall of Famer. … He’s probably going to win the MVP, and win the MVP as a DH, which was unheard of back in the day, so it’s unbelievable.”

Rawitch said Ohtani has been “incredibly generous” with his contributions to the Hall of Fame over the years and that he has a deep understanding of the game’s history. The Hall’s upcoming major exhibit, debuting next summer, is called “Yakyu/Baseball,” which explores the intertwined baseball histories of Japan and the U.S.

The focus is on Japanese greats such as Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui and Hideo Nomo, but American players who have played in Japan are also looked at.

And of course, there will be a lot to say about Ohtani, one of the greatest actors of both countries.

“This guy transcends the game,” said Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “He’s special. He’s going to go down as one of the greatest players of all time and he’s not pitching this year. What Shohei has done for the game is remarkable and exciting. We need things like that.”

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AP baseball reporters Mike Fitzpatrick in New York and Stephen Hawkins in Arlington, Texas, AP sports reporters Kristie Rieken in Houston and Steve Megargee in Milwaukee and freelancers Ken Powtak in Boston and Gary Schatz in Cincinnati contributed to this story.

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AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB