Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is putting up MVP-level numbers again in 2025. At RotoWire.com, your source for top MLB betting promos, we wondered how the 31-year-old's offensive stats through his first eight Major League seasons stack up against MLB's all-time home run king, Barry Bonds. We compiled the stats for both, finding that Ohtani holds his own against one of the game's all-time greats.
Shohei Ohtani Through 8 Seasons (2018-2025)
- 34.3 WAR, 1,018 hits, 270 HRs, 652 RBI, 184 doubles, 162 stolen bases, 44 triples
- Averages: 4.3 WAR, 127.3 hits, 33.8 HR, 81.5 RBI, 23 doubles, 20.3 stolen bases, 5.5 triples per season (1 HR per 13.4 AB)
- 3 MVPs, 1 MVP runner-up, 3 Silver Slugger Awards
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com through Aug. 26. Stats compiled with Los Angeles Angels (2018-23) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-25).
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Barry Bonds Through 8 Seasons (1986-1993)
- 60.2 WAR, 1,169 hits, 222 HRs, 679 RBI, 258 doubles, 280 stolen bases, 40 triples
- Averages: 7.5 WAR, 27.8 HR, 84.9 RBI, 32.3 doubles, 35 stolen bases, 5 triples per season (1 HR per 21.9 AB)
- 3 MVPs, 1 MVP runner-up, 4 Silver Slugger
Stats from Bonds' first eight MLB seasons compiled with Pittsburgh Pirates (1086-92) and San Francisco Giants (1993).
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How Does Ohtani Compare With Bonds On Offense?
It's tough to fairly compare one of the game's greatest hitters and the first true long-term "two-way" player since Babe Ruth. But Bonds and Ohtani have their fair share of commonalities, with Ohtani racing out to 270 home runs and 652 RBIs through his first eight seasons, with 29 games left in L.A.'s season.
Also, both Bonds and Ohtani had three MVPs each by the time they were in their eighth season. Bonds earned his third honor in his first season with the San Francisco Giants during that eighth MLB season of 1993. Ohtani's third MVP came last season (his first with the Dodgers). MLB betting says Ohtani is cruising toward his fourth MVP, which would give him two in each league after he earned the honor twice with the Angels in the American League.
The one area where Bonds blows Ohtani out of the water through eight seasons is the former's incredible WAR (Wins Above Replacement) total. Bonds compiled up 60.2 WAR offensively (according to the Baseball Reference website's metrics) through that span. Ohtani's offensive WAR total is currently 34.4, or roughly 4.3 WAR per season, though of course this does not account for his contributions through the years as a pitcher.
Ohtani has more home runs (270) and HRs per plate appearance (1 out of 13.4) than Bonds' totals of 222 HRs and a one out of 21.9 HR rate through eight seasons. The Japanese-born DH/pitcher has averaged 33.8 HRs and 81.5 RBIs through first eight MLB campaigns; Bonds averaged 27.8 HRs and 84.9 RBIs per season from 1986 to 1993.
How many homers Ohtani will add in the final month remains to be seen as action heats up with baseball betting sites. Entering play on Aug. 27, Ohtani is tied for second MLB-wide with Kyle Schwarber, having blasted 45 long balls in 2025.
Interestingly, Bonds' eighth MLB season in 1993 saw him bash an MLB best 46 homers (his career high at the time) in 159 games, racking up a 9.9 WAR and winning that third MVP award. Ohtani finds himself nine homers shy of his career high of 54, set last season in Tinseltown.
Shohei Ohtani MVP Odds
Currently, Ohtani has the inside track in the NL to win his fourth MVP award, as oddsmakers from FanDuel Sportsbook giving him whopping -10000 odds of winning the National League MVP for a second straight season. The operator also gives him +360 to top Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh for the MLB home run crown. Raleigh, with 50 homers, is listed at -220 odds.
Only time will tell if Ohtani's prodigious exploits will continue as long as Bonds' storied career did. The Japanese star is 498 homers shy of the former outfielder's MLB-leading total. And again we're accounting for neither Ohtani's pitching prowess, now Bonds' defensive excellence in the outfield (he won four Gold Glove Awards in his first eight seasons).
But we can say that Ohtani is currently ahead of the record home run pace through eight seasons.
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