Shohei Ohtani enters exclusive Dodgers club with 20th homer—questions swirl around his pitching future | MLB News
Shohei Ohtani is doing what very few have managed in the history of Major League Baseball—rewriting the record books, one swing at a time. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ superstar slugger continues to dazzle fans and rewrite milestones, becoming just the third player in franchise history to hit 20 home runs within the team’s first 55 games. With his two-run blast against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night, Ohtani joined the elite company of Gil Hodges (1951) and Cody Bellinger (2019), once again proving why he’s the face of modern baseball.
Shohei Ohtani’s latest homer marks historic Dodgers milestone amid growing chatter about pitching role
The fourth-inning homer wasn’t just another stat-booster—it came off a tough cutter from Tanner Bibee and soared into the left-field stands, giving the Dodgers a commanding 4-0 lead. It was Ohtani’s fourth opposite-field home run of the season, a testament to his unrivaled bat control and power to all fields.The Japanese phenom, already a three-time MVP, continues to pace the league in home runs. “Shohei Ohtani continues to dominate Major League Baseball,” and his recent stretch of form only adds fuel to the MVP conversation. He has now homered in three consecutive games for the 10th time since arriving in the majors in 2018—a reminder of just how consistently dangerous he is.Ohtani’s offensive pace in 2025 is blistering. Before this season, the fastest he had reached 20 homers was in 70 games with the Angels back in 2021. Now, he’s done it in just 55. That kind of leap speaks volumes about his evolution and impact in the Dodgers’ lineup. He’s also logged his third month with at least 12 homers since joining the franchise, proving he can sustain power stretches over time.The stats only begin to tell the story. Ohtani’s .295 average, 33 RBIs, and a 1.039 OPS (third-best in MLB) underscore his value. His leadoff homer in Monday night’s win—his third career first-pitch homer and fourth of the season—showed just how instantly he can ignite the offense.What’s even more exciting? He might not be done adding dimensions to his game. After undergoing elbow surgery, Ohtani has been serving solely as a designated hitter, but a recent bullpen session at Citi Field suggests a return to the mound could be on the horizon.If that happens, the Dodgers—already sitting atop the NL West at 33-21—could be looking at a historic run. Because when Shohei Ohtani is at full strength on both sides of the ball, baseball isn’t just being played—it’s being redefined.Also Read: What happened to Nathan Eovaldi? Rangers pitcher exits early vs. Blue Jays with surprising triceps fatigue update
