Even legends have idols. For Barry Bonds, that idol was Michael Jordan. A man who spent his career in the spotlight once found himself awestruck in the presence of basketball royalty. A recent podcast sheds light on their early days—two rising superstars forging a bond in the pursuit of greatness. Bonds admits his journey to stardom began the moment he saw Jordan dominate. But as history played out, did Bonds ever reach the same level of cultural impact as His Airness?

According to statistics, Barry Bonds is the best hitter in baseball history. His seven MVP honors are unmatched, and he holds the all-time marks for career home runs (762) and home runs in a season (73). When 28-year-old Barry Bonds signed a record-breaking six-year, $43.75-million contract with the Giants, he was also the highest-paid player in MLB at the time.

However, he continuously struggled in the postseason, even though he was always able to perform throughout the regular season. He only managed to score nine home runs in 48 playoff games with no ring during his career. Enough comparable with Jordan?

“I want to be like Mike one day, you know, when you see it from the very beginning,” said Bonds in his podcast with ALL THE SMOKE. The 2x Olympic gold medalist was ahead of anyone from his generation in terms of a larger-than-life image.

Thus, Jordan was the greatest NBA player of all time, while Bonds was perhaps the best MLB player at the time. Barry Bonds, however, achieved a cult status in the MLB circuit and accumulated some figures the majority of players would dream of. Is there anyone from the current MLB roster who can be the next Barry Bonds?

Who could be the next Barry Bonds in MLB?

Right now, Shohei Ohtani is the guy in MLB. Many believe he’s on track to become an all-time legend, and honestly, how could he not be? Pitching, hitting, stealing bases—he does it all. In 2024, he made history as the first player ever to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. Some even say Ohtani’s influence is already on par with Barry Bonds. But here’s the next name to watch—Juan Soto. If there’s anyone in today’s game who mirrors Bonds, it’s him. He’s already walked 125+ times in four different seasons, a feat only Bonds, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams have ever pulled off. The question is: Can Soto take that next step to true greatness?

While Soto and Ohtani seem to be the ones who can touch Barry Bonds’ numbers from the current crop of players, a few more can emerge from the rookies. However, considering the competition in the current MLB circuit and the downward performance trend post-age-30 seasons, Bonds’ records might stay safe shortly. Both Ohtani and Soto are currently standing with 225 and 201 home runs, respectively. It is quite unlikely that they will be able to touch Bonds’ 762 home runs during their career. 

Now, the question is—who will take the crown as the next Bonds-like legend? Who’s your pick for MLB’s next all-time great? Share your thoughts below!