Discussion of baseball’s best player often returns to two titans: Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. And their spectacular 2024 seasons, where Judge led all of MLB with 58 home runs and Ohtani hit 54, while stealing 59 bases, only intensify this friendly rivalry. Both rightfully won MVP awards for their leagues last season. It’s an endlessly engaging comparison that, with every jaw-dropping home run or jaw-dropping performance one of them delivers, fuels new arguments about who truly sits atop the baseball world.
That debate was reignited after Aaron Judge’s near-impossible performance on Saturday, March 29th. Against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Yankees captain went on a historic innings, hitting three home runs and driving in eight runs in the Yankees’ 20-9 win. The judge went 4-for-6 at the plate and nearly hit a fourth home run, during which the team hit a franchise record nine home runs. It was a powerful reminder of Judge’s game-changing abilities.
Baseball commentator Marc Luino shared a video clip of one of those homers, capturing the electricity of Judge’s historic day. The caption he wrote along with it was simple, direct, and ideally placed to provoke spirited debate. Luino boldly declared, “Aaron Judge is the best player in MLB.” This bold declaration, highlighting Judge’s phenomenal run, became — instantly — the flashpoint that re-ignited the Ohtani versus Judge debates across the internet.
Aaron Judge is the best player in MLB pic.twitter.com/SIhpxtTVeU
— Marc Luino (@GiraffeNeckMarc) March 30, 2025
Of course, Shohei Ohtani is nowhere near retired. He’s actively contributing for the Los Angeles Dodgers early in 2025, slashing .333 with a pair of homers over his first 18 at-bats. Judge’s three-homer gave him the very early season edge (4 HRs, .545 BA in 11 ABs), Ohtani also got off to a hot start, with a .400 average and .600 slugging percentage following his own strong opener. Both MVPs have clearly come ready to play this year.
It’s important, though, to keep perspective —we’re only a few games into the long 162-game marathon. With most of the season still to come, this early brilliance doesn’t settle any “best player” debates definitively. No one knows what the next 160 or so games will bring. But Luino’s declaration about Judge, fueled by that monster game, undoubtedly hit a nerve and kicked off the passionate fan arguments all over again.
Ohtani vs. Judge: fan debate erupts over “best” title
The swift online response to labeling Judge the “best” usually began with sarcastic disbelief that anyone could overlook the Dodgers’ superstar. “Did Ohtani retire?” one fan joked, acknowledging Ohtani’s undeniable aura.
Did Ohtani retire ?
— Angels _Future (@FosterFam44) March 30, 2025
Even though Ohtani did not pitch last year, he still had a historic 50-home run, 50-steal base last season to claim the NL MVP. Fans also point out Ohtani’s higher career postseason OPS, arguing he rises to the moment compared to Judge’s playoff stats.
Others joked that the assertion had been misstated and that the commentator had simply gotten the name of baseball’s real king wrong. “You spelled Shohei Ohtani wrong,” another chimed in cheekily.
You spelled Shohei Ohtani wrong.
— John Russo (@john_russoxx) March 30, 2025
This bias probably stems from Ohtani’s incomparable two-way value, apparent in his 2023 MVP campaign, where, in addition to his elite hitting, he reached a 10-5 record and 3.14 ERA with 167 strikeouts in 132 innings pitched — ace-level contributions that Judge simply cannot offer.
Many fans expressed their preference for Ohtani’s consistent talent, even considering Judge’s occasional outbursts of power. “Ok Marc… I’ll take Shohei anyday and twice on Tuesday you can have Aaron,” said one supporter emphatically.
Ok Marc… I’ll take Shohei anyday and twice on Tuesday you can have Aaron
— EP (@epinindy) March 30, 2025
There’s something about Tuesdays and Ohtani. Maybe it’s fate, or maybe it’s just the perfect setup for another iconic performance, like in 2023, when he shut down the Nationals with seven scoreless innings, leaving fans with yet another unforgettable memory.
The harshest criticism of Judge’s crowning moment? A jab at his clutch factor. “You mean regular season,” one skeptic shot back, questioning if Judge delivers when it really matters.
You mean regular season
— Bandito (@SwornEnemy81) March 30, 2025
That underscores the heavy drop Judge has had in the postseason, statistically — his batting average is more than 80 points lower than it is in regular-season action.
For these fans, being the “best” means consistent clutch performance, and that’s where they see Judge’s biggest vulnerability.
The post “Did (Shohei) Ohtani Retire?” – Aaron Judge’s Sky-High Praise Ignites Wild Fan Debates Over Dodgers Phenom appeared first on EssentiallySports.