Shohei Ohtani was named National League Player of the Month for May, marking a second time in his Los Angeles Dodgers career he’s received such honor. He’s also the first Dodgers player to earn the monthly recognition in 2025.
Ohtani previously was named NL Player of the Month for a remarkable performance in September 2024. He was American League Player of the Month in June 2021 and 2023, and July in both of those years as well.
Ohtani started in all 27 of the Dodgers’ games in May, batting .309/.398/.782 with five doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 17 RBI, a .480 wOBA and 214 wRC+. During the month, Ohtani led the Majors in home runs, total bases (86) and extra-base hits (21).
He trailed only Aaron Judge, who was named AL Player of the Month, in slugging and on-base plus slugging (1.180) and tied for fourth in RBI. Judge and Ohtani combined to make MLB history as the only reigning MVPs to hit a home run in the first inning of the same game.
“I think with Shohei, and he would probably say, it’s just like any other game. But I do think when you’re seeing the reigning MVP on the other side going out there and performing, that brings out even more of a competitor in Shohei,” manager Dave Roberts said.
“Obviously, it brought a lot of excitement from the fans.”
Ohtani had at least one hit in 21 games, including 10 multi-hit efforts and three games with at least three. Ohtani also tied a career-best streak of seven consecutive games with an extra-base hit (May 3-9), which he’d previously achieved from June 12-18, 2023, and June 16-22, 2024.
Ohtani additionally tied the Dodgers franchise record for most home runs hit in a calendar month. Duke Snider (August 1953) and Pedro Guerrero (June 1985) also slugged 15 homers in one month as well.
Shohei Ohtani makes Player of the Month history
Last September, Ohtani became one of 13 players all-time to win the award in both leagues, and he is now the first player ever to win multiple awards in each league.
“He’s the best player I’ve ever seen,” Dodgers rookie Dalton Rushing said after his MLB debut. “Anyone can say it, I’ll be another one to say it. It’s special to be on a team with him and see the things he does on the baseball field every night.”
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