Shohei Ohtani is often compared to the legendary Babe Ruth.
Not only because of the way he hits home runs, but the two-way characteristics the two possessed is a rare feat. Not only that, but they dominate on both sides of the ball.
For six-time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia, there is no comparison. He’s said before that Ohtani is the best to ever play the game.
Period.
As a former big-league pitcher himself, he couldn’t fathom the fact that there could be a hitting element to his game. He also was sure fans were unaware of how unique it is.
“I don’t think so and that’s why I give him such high praise,” Sabathia told CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder. “People like to compare him to Babe Ruth, but there wasn’t that much overlap and I don’t think the players were as good as they are now.”
Ruth historically faced the same pitchers more frequently than you see these days. A league with 30 teams was nothing but a fantasy. Those on the mound also weren’t hurling fastballs in the upper-90’s with a pitching arsenal as long as a CVS receipt.
Just in 2008 alone, the low 90’s was where pitchers comfortably sat.
Now, pitchers aren’t throwing as far into games as they used to, but nonetheless, starters still are used to the five-ish days in between starts.
“That’s what’s so amazing about it,” Sabathia said. “Everything that I did to get ready just to pitch every five days, I couldn’t imagine doing that and still being one of the best hitters on the team — producing that way. It’s incredible what he’s able to do.”
Back in 2022, Ohtani joined Ruth as the only players in MLB history to have at least 10 home runs and 10 wins in the same season.
Ohtani’s changed the game of baseball forever.
In 2021, he became the first two-way player (pitcher and designated hitter) in MLB history with 10-plus home runs, 20-plus stolen bases as a hitter and 100-plus strikeouts, and 10-plus pitcher appearances as a pitcher in the same season. And he was unanimously selected as the AL MVP.
In 17 games this season with the Los Angeles Angels, he’s batting .271/.370/.500 with four home runs and 11 RBI.
