Babe Ruth owns the MLB records for highest career slugging percentage (.690) and highest career OPS (1.164). He was also one of the earliest two-way players, racking up 94 career pitching wins and 17 shutouts. However, in the modern era, when the average fastball sits around 95 mph, with many relievers touching 100 mph, dominating from both ends deserves additional credit. According to Yankees legend CC Sabathia, Shohei Ohtani thus makes the cut for being the greatest player in MLB’s history.

“It seems like it is just this one-off where Shohei’s the greatest baseball player of all time, and he’s the only one that can do it on this level,” Sabathia said via The Dan Patrick Show.

“Wait, you think he’s going to be the greatest player of all time?” Patrick countered. “I think he already is,” Sabathia responded.

Sabathia’s high praise for Ohtani is nothing new. Ever since Ohtani’s 2018 rookie season, Sabathia has been one of his loudest supporters. Back in 2021, Sabathia famously said, “When I saw that dude play for the first time, I said he was the greatest player I’d ever seen. Ohtani is literally playing Little League in the Majors.”

MLB’s debate about the greatest player in baseball is age-old. Every time this debate arises, Ruth and Barry Bonds are named. While Ruth already gained a cult status with his hitting numbers, Bonds led the MLB’s all-time hitting charts in terms of home runs (762) and walks (2,558). But could either of them throw seven shutout innings against modern hitters? Sabathia does not think so.

“My GOAT to me is Barry Bonds; he’s always number one, but Barry can’t go out and throw seven shutout innings,” he said.

Snubbing Bonds and Ruth from MLB’s greatest race deserves attention, and Patrick was no different. Patrick doubled down again and said, “The greatest of all time?” and Sabathia told him, “Who’s better?”

While Bonds never pitched, Ruth did both jobs. But Sabathia argues that today’s game is much tougher because players are bigger, faster, and stronger than before. In the 1920s, Ruth played in a segregated league before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. This meant the league left out many great players. Today, MLB searches the whole world for the best athletes, especially in Japan, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic.

Thus, the current competition is harsher and more intense than what Ruth may have faced. This surely doesn’t take the credit away from Ruth, but because the game is so tough now, Ohtani’s success is even more amazing. He became the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season back in 2024. He ended that year with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.

From the current generation, Aaron Judge could be compared with Ohtani in hitting and Paul Skenes in pitching. But Ohtani is the only player who does both at the same time.

Does that mean MLB will not again see another two-way player as dominating as Ohtani? Sabathia is hopeful.

Shohei Ohtani could face increased competition

MLB currently doesn’t have anyone to compete with Ohtani, but college baseball has. Jared Grindlinger is one such name.

The 17-year-old will turn 18 next year and is part of the 2026 draft class. A week ago, MLB Pipeline conducted a mock draft where Grindlinger got picked by the Washington Nationals. And the reason behind the demand and hype around Grindlinger lies in his two-way ability.

Grindlinger is a left-handed pitcher whose fastball is currently around 90 mph. Considering his 6’3 frame, that velocity would surely get to 100 mph by the time he enters MLB. Moreover, Grindlinger is known for his nasty sliders and changeups. As a hitter, similar to Ohtani, Grindlinger has diverse hitting tools. His contact rates are something to focus on.

Grindlinger was with the Oilers last season, which was his sophomore year. He batted .343, with two homers, five doubles, 24 hits, and 17 RBIs. At the mound, he pitched 32.1 innings, went 5-0 with a 0.87 ERA and 34 SOs.

“Hopefully, there are more guys that can do this. I don’t think anybody’s gonna be able to do it on the level that he’s doing it. But there are definitely guys that can do both,” Sabathia noted.

In the next few years, Shohei Ohtani could thus face a few more two-way players, but for now, the debate around the GOAT of MLB is resolved.