Shohei Ohtani continues to impress virtually every time he sets foot on the diamond. The Los Angeles Angels star joined some exclusive company on Saturday as he became the third Japanese player to hit 100 MLB homers and just the second player with at least 100 homers and 250 strikeouts pitching. Any time a player can join groups that contain Ichiro and Babe Ruth with one swing of the bat, it is an impressive moment.
Any time a player joins a list that includes themselves and Ruth, it is fair to begin to wonder about their place in history. In this case, it is time to wonder what Ohtani would need to produce statistically in order to join him in the Hall of Fame.
What would Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani need to produce for Hall of Fame?
Ohtani cannot be viewed through the traditional lens when it comes to his numbers due to his nature as a true two-way player. He has put together a strong start to his career, with 101 homers, 60 steals, and a 138 OPS+ thus far in his career. On the pitching side, he has a 16-7 record with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.130 WHiP in his 216 innings, striking out 268 batters.
The biggest key will be for Ohtani to stay healthy. He essentially missed approximately two and a half years on the mound due to his injury woes even if he was still able to produce in the batter’s box. Even then, those injuries can make a difference at the plate, as could be seen in 2020.
Even if that happens, Ohtani is not likely to reach a lot of traditional numbers needed to be a strong Hall of Fame resume. He may not get to 2000 hits due to his unique usage and 200 wins would seemingly be out of the question. He will hit for power, steal bases, and strike batters out, but what would it take to overcome that lack of traditional counting stats?
In Ohtani’s case, it would not be a surprise to see him retire with more than 300 major league homers and approximately 200 steals. He very well could end up with more than 1500 hits, a good number for any player, let alone one who pitches every fifth day. On the mound, he could end up with approximately 1500 strikeouts as well and more than 100 wins.
Those numbers, as a whole, may be good enough. That would especially be the case when considering the hardware that he has brought home, as he is likely to have several more All Star appearances and continued MVP consideration in his future. Bringing home another MVP, and possibly adding a Cy Young award, would only further his case.
It is a long time until Ohtani will be thinking about retirement. He is just 27 years old and is still getting better. He is just starting to tap into his powers and show the world what he is capable of on the largest stage. As that happens, the sky is going to be the limit.
Shohei Ohtani has already made history several times in his career. It is fun to wonder what the Los Angeles Angels star would need to accomplish to join the Hall of Fame.