MLB icon Barry Bonds has something to say about Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s success and the evolution of baseball. Discover his unique perspective.

© Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Barry Bonds attends the 145th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on June 13, 2021 in Tarrytown, New York.

Shohei Ohtani has captured the attention of the baseball world with his exceptional talent as both a hitter and pitcher throughout his seven years in MLB. However, Barry Bonds, one of the greatest hitters of all time, believes that the success of the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is being exaggerated.

Bonds, while acknowledging Ohtani’s two-way play as “outstanding” and calling him a “complete player,” argues that Ohtani has advantages that players of previous generations did not enjoy. The essence of his critique lies in the evolution of the game and the differences in baseball’s norms and culture.

“There’s no doubt about the type of player he is and what he [has] accomplished in his career,” Bonds said on the All The Smoke podcast. “The game has just changed. The game is way different than it was when I played. The same way Michael [Jordan] talks about it or anyone else does.“

“Ohtani is not going to hit two home runs without seeing one go [by his ear] in my generation. I don’t care what he does. He’s not going to steal two bases without somebody decapitating his kneecap to slow him down because it’s a different game back then.” Bonds added.

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on prior to the spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch on February 28, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images)

Barry Bonds on MLB’s evolution

Bonds also alluded to the emphasis on hitting and the decrease in physical confrontation, noting that Shohei Ohtani-era players benefit from a less hostile environment.

“Today’s game, they take batting practice all day,” Bonds said. “These guys hit more than I’ve ever seen in my entire lifetime… and they should be better than us, hitting-wise, because they can hit a home run, flip their bat up in the air, run around, get a taco, come back down, and have a limo drive them around. All these antics that we weren’t allowed to do.

“If I did anything like that, I’m going to see a star. I’m going to see a hospital, but I’m not going to see baseball that day.” Bonds’ perception is that baseball’s culture has changed dramatically, allowing for greater individual expression and decreasing the severity of retaliation for behavior deemed provocative.

The evolution of Baseball norms and culture

Bonds’ critique also underscores the evolution of baseball’s norms and culture. Decreased physical confrontation and increased tolerance for individual expression, such as bat flips after home runs, are examples of how the game has changed. This observation reflects Bonds’ belief that players of the current era in MLB enjoy greater freedom and protection compared to previous generations.