Freddie Freeman Says Shohei Ohtani Is Baseball’s Future GOAT, Ignoring Babe Ruth and Other Legends in Bold New Take
In the world of baseball, where history is sacred and legends are immortalized in bronze and Cooperstown busts, few names are uttered with more reverence than Babe Ruth. Alongside him stand icons like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, and Barry Bonds. For generations, these players have symbolized the pinnacle of baseball greatness. But in a sport increasingly driven by modern athleticism, global talent, and changing metrics, one contemporary superstar is breaking through that traditional mold and forcing a complete reassessment of the GOAT conversation—Shohei Ohtani.
That’s exactly the perspective of Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, a former National League MVP and widely respected veteran voice in Major League Baseball. In a recent candid interview, Freeman didn’t mince words when he placed Ohtani ahead of the game’s historic greats, not just as the best player of this era—but as the future greatest of all time. In doing so, Freeman essentially skipped over baseball royalty, ignoring Babe Ruth and company, in favor of the Japanese two-way phenomenon.
This bold claim lit a firestorm in baseball circles, with fans, analysts, and former players split between admiration and outrage. But to understand Freeman’s stance, you have to look at the unprecedented player Ohtani has become, and why even comparisons to Babe Ruth may no longer be enough to contain his trajectory.
Shohei Ohtani is not just the best player in baseball right now—he is a statistical anomaly, a unicorn who has completely shattered the boundaries of what a single athlete can do on a diamond. It’s one thing to be an elite pitcher. It’s another to be a top-tier slugger. But to do both—at an MVP level—over the course of multiple seasons? That’s territory no modern player has entered, and even Babe Ruth only did briefly during his early years with the Red Sox.
Freddie Freeman, who has played against and now with Ohtani as a Dodger, has had a front-row seat to the marvel. His praise is not lip service; it’s awe. “You can’t really describe what he’s doing,” Freeman said. “We’re seeing a guy hit 40 home runs and strike out 200 guys in the same season. You can’t find that in baseball history, not consistently. That’s not human.”
Ohtani’s 2021 and 2023 MVP seasons were jaw-dropping. He led the American League in slugging, OPS, and WAR while also maintaining an elite ERA and strikeout rate as a pitcher. It’s not just the raw numbers that amaze—it’s the historical context. No player, not even Ruth, performed both roles at such a dominant level simultaneously, especially in an era of specialized roles and hyper-competitive pitching.
The immediate counterargument is, of course, Babe Ruth. His mythos is unparalleled—a home run-hitting colossus who transformed the game from a dead-ball grind into a slugging spectacle. His 714 home runs stood as the gold standard for decades. His pitching days with Boston were impressive as well, with a career ERA under 3.00 before he gave it up to become a full-time slugger.
But here’s the nuance: Ruth never did both at once for a sustained period. By the time he became the Babe Ruth we revere, the 50- and 60-home run-hitting machine, his pitching days were behind him. Shohei Ohtani is doing both—and not just decently, but at a Hall of Fame level—at the same time.
Freeman understands the weight of that historical context, but he doesn’t see it as disqualifying his take. “Ruth changed baseball in his time. But Shohei is changing what we even think is possible. In today’s game, against today’s velocity, analytics, and global competition? That’s even more impressive,” Freeman said
Another reason Freeman’s declaration has teeth is the level of competition in Ohtani’s era. Baseball is now a global game. The best athletes from across the world play in the MLB, from Japan and Korea to Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and beyond. Pitching is faster, breaking balls break sharper, and defensive positioning is run by AI-level analytics. The idea of dominating in this era, both offensively and defensively, is a mountain taller than Ruth’s ever was.
Ohtani is facing relievers who throw 102 mph with sliders that move like wiffle balls. He’s hitting opposite-field bombs and then stepping onto the mound to strike out reigning MVPs. No one else is even trying to do what he does. And Freeman recognizes that uniqueness. “We’re not just watching greatness,” Freeman added. “We’re watching something the sport may never see again.”
Baseball’s GOAT debate has always been murky. Unlike basketball, where names like Jordan and LeBron dominate, or football, where Tom Brady has become an undisputed benchmark, baseball doesn’t have a universally agreed-upon greatest. The sport’s vast history, changing eras, and unique statistical standards have kept the debate open-ended.
For many, Ruth’s place has been untouchable, not just because of his numbers but because of his cultural impact. He turned baseball into America’s pastime. But the very idea of what makes someone the greatest is evolving. It’s no longer just about stats, championships, or fame—it’s about impact, versatility, and redefining the sport.
That’s what Ohtani is doing. He’s not just playing baseball—he’s rewriting what a baseball player can be. Freeman’s assertion reflects that evolution. The metrics may eventually prove it. WAR (Wins Above Replacement), for example, already shows Ohtani climbing all-time lists at an alarming pace. If he keeps up this pace for another five to eight years, he will challenge every major all-time leaderboard—and do so with a résumé unlike anyone else.
Predictably, Freeman’s statement did not go over smoothly with every baseball fan or analyst. Traditionalists bristled at the dismissal of the sport’s forefathers. “It’s disrespectful to forget Ruth, Mays, or Aaron in any GOAT talk,” one analyst said. “Ohtani is amazing, but he hasn’t done it long enough yet. Longevity matters.”
And that’s fair. Shohei Ohtani is still only a few full seasons into his MLB career. Injuries are a concern. He’s already had Tommy John surgery once, and his 2024 season was limited to hitting duties due to another arm issue. For all his brilliance, greatness in baseball has always been tied to durability.
But Freeman’s claim isn’t just about the past—it’s about the future. He’s projecting, not just observing. He’s betting that what we’re seeing is not a flash, but the dawn of a new era. “If Shohei stays healthy, there won’t be anyone close to what he does by the time he’s done,” Freeman emphasized.
It’s also important to recognize that Ohtani isn’t just redefining the game statistically—he’s globalizing it further than any player before him. His appeal stretches across continents. Every time he steps onto the field, he’s drawing millions of viewers from Japan, the U.S., and elsewhere. His jersey sales are through the roof. His All-Star appearances are must-watch events. In terms of star power, only a handful of athletes in the world, in any sport, match Ohtani’s glow.
He’s not just baseball’s best player—he’s arguably its most important. That influence matters in GOAT discussions. Ruth made the game America’s pastime. Ohtani might be making it the world’s pastime.
Freeman’s comments will be debated for years, and rightfully so. GOAT discussions are inherently subjective, and they often say as much about the person making the claim as they do about the subject itself. But what’s not subjective is this: Shohei Ohtani is doing things that no one else in baseball history has done. He’s dominating two phases of the sport in an era of hyper-specialization. He’s carrying the mantle of global superstar while maintaining elite production.
Freddie Freeman didn’t disrespect the past. He simply acknowledged that the future may already be here—and it wears No. 17 for the Dodgers. Whether or not the baseball world is ready to accept Ohtani as the GOAT yet, his legend grows with every pitch he throws and every ball he crushes into the bleachers. And if Freeman is right, we’ll all look back on these seasons as the early chapters of the greatest career the game has ever seen.
