The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a strong start to the 2025 season with the most wins in the National League, and they are once again being led by Shohei Ohtani.
The reigning 2024 NL MVP is batting .316/.416/.690 with eight doubles, four triples, 16 home runs, 29 RBI, 49 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Ohtani blasted his MLB-leading 16th home run on Friday, against the Los Angeles Angels, in his 43rd game of the year, but what he did prior to that made MLB history with the hot start.
Ohtani became the first player ever to have at least 15 home runs, 10 or more stolen bases, at least 45 runs scored and 25 walks or more through a 42-game span at any point during a single season, according to optaSTATS:
The @Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani has played 42 games this season. He already has:
15+ home runs
10+ stolen bases
45+ runs scored
25+ walksNo one else in MLB history has put up those numbers over any 42-game span at any point in a single season. pic.twitter.com/GTGZkZVfTV
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 16, 2025
Fresh off becoming the first player to reach the 50-50 club in MLB history, Ohtani is doing his best to top the accomplishment. He’s on pace for 60 home runs this year, but he’ll need to swipe some more bases as he’s on pace for just 38 this year.
Even with his stolen base total down, Ohtani is in the midst of his most productive season at the plate. His current 197 wRC+ would be a career-best, topping 181 from last season.
Ohtani is also on pace to score 184 runs, which would be a modern era MLB record, and drive in 109. While it’s hard to actually see him reaching that runs total, it goes to show just how good Ohtani has been this season.
When is Shohei Ohtani pitching?
The Dodgers hoped they would potentially be utilizing a six-man rotation with Ohtani at this point in the season, but that proved to be too bullish of an initial projection and not the most prudent course of action.
Even with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow on the injured list, that has not caused the Dodgers from keeping Ohtani’s best interests in mind as he rehabs from a second Tommy John surgery.
That has resulted in Ohtani’s pitching timeline being pushed back until after the All-Star break at the earliest.
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