Imagine a player recording four extra-base hits in a World Series game for the first time in 100-plus years, and then walking five times in the same game to make it a perfect 9-for-9 reaching base.
And then realize that performance was easily the weaker of that player’s past two home games.
Well, that’s true for Shohei Ohtani, who played the greatest game ever played his previous game at Dodger Stadium, the week before, hitting three home runs in three official at-bats, and logging the very same 1.000 on-base percentage while also striking out 10 and pitching six shutout innings.
In those two games — the clinching game of the NLCS and the first Dodgers home game in the World Series — Ohtani had a 1.000 on-base percentage, a 3.429 slugging percentage and a 4.429 OPS.
Throw in a 0.00 ERA, and they represent the two greatest consecutive home games that have ever been played, or very likely will ever be played.
Some argue against Ohtani being the greatest talent since Babe Ruth, but they have no case. And even Ruth didn’t simultaneously pitch and hit anywhere near this frequently.
Ruth is really the only one who’s close as an all-around player comp, and he did it in the segregated era. There is no other true comp, but if you separate what he does into categories, here’s who I came up with for comps:
1. Hitting comp: Juan Soto. Aaron Judge first comes to mind for the otherworldly power. But fairly, Judge’s 172 OPS-plus puts him somewhat ahead. As a career hitter, Juan Soto is tied with Ohtani with a 160 OPS-plus and ahead of Stan Musial (159), Hank Aaron (155), Willie Mays (155) and Joe DiMaggio (155).
2. Pitching comp: Roger Clemens. Ohtani’s career 143 ERA-plus is also Hall of Fame worthy and puts him in a dead heat with Clemens, who pitched a lot more innings but also cheated like crazy. Ohtani understandably pitches a lot less than he hits, but the 143 mark places him ahead of Max Fried (141), Chris Sale (141), Christy Mathewson (136) and Randy Johnson (135).
3. Base stealing comp: Ronald Acuña Jr. He and Acuña combine power and speed. One’s the only 50-50 guy (Ohtani), the other the only 40-70 guy (Acuña).
4. Marketing comp: The other 779 MLB players combined. Yep, the rest of the league might be the best comp. We only have estimates for Ohtani’s off-field value, but word is Ohtani generates well over $100 million — perhaps close to $200M (by some estimates)— in marketing and sponsorship money for the Dodgers while also making close to $100M for himself. If every other player’s off-field value is combined, it might come close to Ohtani. Maybe.
5. Salary comp: Mark Leiter Jr. Ohtani is paid $2M this year. Leiter, the Yankees reliever left off their division series roster, is actually slightly higher at $2.05M. Among players on the World Series teams, Ernie Clement ($1.97M), Alex Vesia ($2.3M) Brusdar Graterol ($2.8M) and Nick Sandlin ($1.63M) are all in the ballpark. Of course, Ohtani has the remaining $68M each year deferred.
