“The greatest leadoff hitter of all-time” – Ben Verlander makes yet another bold claim about Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani continues to defy what many fans feel is possible on the field. The two-time American League MVP has not skipped a beat since his high-profile move to the Los Angeles Dodgers. After a red-hot start to the season, Ohtani finds himself in the race for yet another MVP award.

So far this season, Shohei Ohtani has posted an impressive .319 batting average with 21 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. This is even more unfathomable given the fact that the Los Angeles Dodger superstar underwent UCL surgery this past offseason. Even though he is unable to pitch this year, his presence at the plate has been world-class.

On Thursday, Ohtani hit his 21st home run of the season, launching a lead-off home run against the Colorado Rockies. This prompted a bold claim from MLB commentator and analyst Ben Verlander.

"SHOHEI OHTANI IS THE GREATEST LEADOFF HITTER OF ALL TIME!!" - @BenVerlander

Even though Ohtani is having yet another tremendous season at the plate, given the rich history of the MLB, Ben Verlander's claim may not go over well with some fans. There is a chance the Los Angeles Dodgers star could be considered the best lead-off hitter in the modern MLB, but all-time might be too much of a stretch.

Which leadoff hitters in MLB history are ahead of Shohei Ohtani?

Ben Verlander has long been called out for being a biased fan of Ohtani, which makes his claim difficult to trust. That being said, it is worth exploring which players in MLB history have a claim as the greatest leadoff hitter of all time.

There have been nearly 150 seasons in MLB history, which makes Verlander's claim even more difficult to support. Without question, some of the greatest leadoff hitters in MLB history include Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines, Lou Brock, Ichiro, and Pete Rose. It's difficult to say that Ohtani is a better leadoff hitter than any of the players listed above.

"Rickey Henderson stole more bases in 1982 than any entire major league team stole last season. Think about that for a minute" - @Super70sSports

It is worth mentioning that Ohtani is only 29 years old. He may never been considered the greatest leadoff hitter in MLB history, however, there is still plenty of time for him to build his case for that title.