In a world where hot takes fly faster than Shohei Ohtani fastballs and Jordan comparisons are handed out like ballpark peanuts, one voice has dared to pump the brakes. Enter Alex Rodriguez — never shy, never subtle. While the baseball world lines up to crown the next global icon, A-Rod calmly dusts off history’s ledger and points elsewhere, reminding us that greatness didn’t begin in the 2020s… or on a sneaker.

The baseball world has been in awe of Shohei Ohtani since the time he started playing in MLB. He has shown that there is a whole other level of gameplay that can be reached and has drawn comparisons to some greats. In a recent interview, the CEO of Fanatics, Michael Rubin, mentioned Shohei Ohtani and Michael Jordan in the same sentence. He said, “Ohtani is doing as much for baseball as [Michael] Jordan did for basketball in the 90s.” 

While many might disagree, Alex Rodriguez said that there is only one player in baseball who even comes close to Jordan. In a show with Zach Gelb, Rodriguez said, “No, the best player I’ve ever seen is Barry Bonds, hand and shoulders above everyone, almost like Michael Jordan, like just a class of his own.”

Barry Bonds wasn’t just great — he was terrifyingly inevitable. Pitchers didn’t pitch; they surrendered. With 762 home runs and seven MVPs, he rewrote the power hitting. His bat alone won games, no mound needed. Right now, Ohtani’s brilliance glows, but Bonds still casts the longer shadow.

Yet, Shohei Ohtani is baseball’s beautiful anomaly — a slugger and ace in one. His two-way talent feels mythic, almost Ruthian. While his stats trail Bonds today, time favors Shohei. If he stays healthy, eclipsing Bonds isn’t unthinkable — it’s probable. Greatness, after all, is a marathon, not a moonshot.

And that’s the hook — Ohtani may not yet be Bonds, but he’s chasing ghosts in cleats, not mortals. Barry broke the game; Shohei is reinventing it. One owns the batter’s box, the other moonlights on the mound. In baseball’s endless scroll of greatness, Ohtani’s just getting warmed up.

Chipper challenges Shohei Ohtani’s GOAT status with a Bonds reminder

There’s always that one uncle at the family BBQ who reminds everyone Babe Ruth pitched to—and hit. In today’s version of that conversation, it’s Chipper Jones stirring the grill. While fans crown Shohei Ohtani as baseball’s untouchable unicorn, Chipper’s not ready to hand over the throne. Instead, he points a seasoned finger toward Barry Bonds—gold gloves, stolen bases, and all the swagger stats can’t quite capture.

Chipper Jones didn’t hesitate to challenge the GOAT hype around Shohei Ohtani. Responding to Ben Verlander’s praise of Ohtani, Jones emphasized Barry Bonds’ all-around dominance. “May wanna check those gold gloves and stolen base numbers,” he said, defending Bonds as far more than “just” a hitter.

Chipper Jones highlighted how Bonds excelled on both offense and defense—something Ohtani hasn’t yet matched. Bonds earned eight Gold Gloves and swiped over 500 bases. He wasn’t just a slugger, he was a complete athlete. “He doesn’t pitch enough and doesn’t play a position,” Jones argued about Ohtani’s current limitations.

While Ohtani’s two-way play is historic, Bonds’ longevity and impact run deeper. Bonds holds the all-time home run record and has won seven MVPs. He played left field with grace, stole bases with ease, and dominated every aspect. Until Ohtani replicates that versatility, Bonds still owns the GOAT crown.

So before we bronze Ohtani’s cleats for Cooperstown, let’s pump the brakes a bit. Greatness isn’t just flash—it’s decades of domination, glove leather, and stolen bags. Chipper didn’t whisper it—he warned us. Until Ohtani fields like Bonds and runs like the wind, the crown stays with the King of Left Field.