Barry Bonds Critiques Shohei Ohtani's Stardom, Citing Changes in MLB's Culture

Bonds acknowledges Ohtani's talent but argues that modern baseball's rules and attitudes make the game easier compared to his era.

Barry Bonds praised Shohei Ohtani as a 'complete player' but claimed his achievements are aided by changes in MLB's culture and gameplay.
Bonds stated that during his era, pitchers would retaliate more aggressively against players like Ohtani for feats such as home runs or stolen bases.
He highlighted modern baseball's acceptance of celebratory actions, like bat flips, as a significant shift from the stricter conduct in his playing days.
Ohtani's historic 2024 season included 54 home runs, 59 stolen bases, and a .310 batting average, leading the Dodgers to a World Series title.
Bonds remains a polarizing figure in baseball, holding the all-time home run record but excluded from the Hall of Fame due to his connection to the steroid scandal.