May 9, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a three run home run in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn

"Between him and Barry Bonds, they’re the two best players I’ve ever seen. I played with Barry. But what Shohei does in the clutch, I’ve never seen anything like what he does in the clutch.”

Ohtani has already led his respective league in OBP, SLG, and OPS each of the last two seasons, which is something Bonds did many times. And it looks to be no different this season, as through 37 games, he has 12 home runs, 43 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.063. 

Bonds has seven MVP awards, which Ohtani is still some ways away from sitting with three, but Shohei is now the favorite to win his fourth MVP, and it would be his third in a row winning MLB's most prestigious award. 

While it's a pretty lofty comparison from Roberts, Ohtani has the clutch ability to back up the claim, and as Ohtani is in the middle of his prime, he could be placed among the greats like Barry Bonds as one of the best baseball players to ever exist.