Joey Votto believes Shohei Ohtani is no longer just chasing awards. He is chasing the very top tier of baseball history.
The Canadian baseball legend was asked about Ohtani’s place among the game’s all-time greats, and his answer showed how high the Dodgers superstar has climbed.
For Votto, Ohtani is not merely having a great run. He is moving toward a place beside the names usually treated as untouchable.
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani gets Joey Votto’s Mount Rushmore backing
As MLB Network shared, Joey Votto said Ohtani is trending toward baseball’s Mount Rushmore.
“I have him right now trending towards his face being next to Ruth’s, Willie, and Hank Aaron on baseball’s Mount Rushmore,” Votto said.
That is massive praise because Votto did not place Ohtani near ordinary stars. He mentioned Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, three names that define baseball greatness across eras.
Ruth changed the sport as a hitter and pitcher. Mays became one of the most complete players ever. Aaron built one of baseball’s greatest power and consistency resumes.
Votto’s point is that Ohtani is doing something rare enough to force his way into that kind of conversation.
Shohei Ohtani’s resume keeps making an impossible debate real
Ohtani’s case is built differently from almost every other all-time great. He has already won multiple MVP awards, dominated as a hitter, returned to pitching after major injury concerns, and carried two-way value in a modern game that was not designed for players like him.
His 2024 season alone changed the argument, as he became the first player in MLB history to reach the 50-home run, 50-stolen base club.
Then he continued adding to the legacy with the Dodgers, pairing elite power production with a return to the mound.
That is why Votto’s Mount Rushmore comment does not feel like simple hype. Ohtani is not being compared to Ruth only because he pitches and hits. He is being compared to Ruth because he has changed what people think is possible.
The question now is how long he can keep stacking the resume. If Ohtani adds more MVP-level seasons, more postseason moments, and more two-way dominance, Votto’s prediction may stop sounding bold and start sounding obvious.
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