The Los Angeles Dodgers finished off the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series by completing a sweep behind an awe-inspiring performance by Shohei Ohtani.
After a relatively quiet postseason, Ohtani erupted in the Dodgers’ clinching win with three home runs. His first blast was a solo home run off Jose Quintana in the bottom of the first inning.
It came one year to the day that Ohtani hit a leadoff homer against Quintana, as he did so in last year’s NLCS when the southpaw was with the New York Mets. Ohtani’s first-inning home run traveled 446 feet and had a 116.5 mph exit velocity.
That made franchise history as Ohtani became the first Dodgers pitcher to hit a home run in the postseason.
Then with the Dodgers leading 3-0 and into the Brewers’ bullpen, Ohtani further electrified Dodger Stadium by mashing a 469-foot home run.
Shohei Ohtani is coming for NLCS MVP.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/d5O4eN8dAV— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) October 18, 2025
That majestic blast marked the first time Ohtani ever hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium. He came close to accomplishing the rare feat in July 2024, and did do so in batting practice during a workout on Wednesday.
Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to hit two home runs as a pitcher during one postseason game. He then added onto that with an opposite-field blast in the seventh inning.
As if his three homers weren’t enough, Ohtani also pitched six-plus innings, complete with 10 strikeouts, in his second career playoff start.
“I think this is his opportunity to make his mark on this series. We’re going to see his best effort,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Game 4.
History of Dodgers NLCS MVPs
Ohtani is the 10th Dodgers NLCS MVP winner in franchise history. The 2025 NLCS MVP Award is the first time Ohtani has received the honor, even when also including the American League Championship Series.
Justin Turner and Chris Taylor are the only Dodgers to share NLCS MVP honors, which they did in 2017 after helping the franchise reach the World Series for the first time since 1988.
Dodgers NLCS MVP history also includes Dusty Baker (1977), Steve Garvey (1978), Burt Hooton (1981), Orel Hershiser (1988), Cody Bellinger (2018), Corey Seager (2020) and Tommy Edman (2024).
NLCS MVP was first introduced in 1977, and the inaugural award was handed out for the ALCS in 1980.
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