LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a rare homerless streak and showcased his formidable batting prowess on Saturday night, marking an exciting triumph for both himself and the team.
During the Dodgers’ 11-5 victory against the San Francisco Giants, the celebrated three-time MVP smashed two home runs, breaking his 10-game drought without a homer. This achievement accentuated his ability to quickly regain form, as he reached the milestone of 25 homers in a season for the fifth consecutive year.
Ohtani ignited the game with a powerful start by launching his 24th home run. He skillfully targeted Landen Roupp, sending his fourth pitch soaring 419 feet into the right-field bleachers with an impressive exit speed of 110.3 mph.
In previous games since his last home run on June 2, Ohtani recorded a streak of eight consecutive games with hits, albeit without securing any RBIs with a 10-for-40 record.
Reflecting on his recent performance through his interpreter, Ohtani noted, “It did feel like I hadn’t hit a homer in a while. Hitting the first homer early in the game was more significant.”
He continued his stellar performance by launching his 25th home run off Tristan Beck’s breaking ball, located outside the strike zone, during the sixth inning. The home run thrilled the crowd, who rewarded Ohtani with a standing ovation, marking his third multi-homer game of the season and his 22nd career-wise.
This achievement placed him just one homer short of the major league lead, held by the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Seattle’s Cal Raleigh.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented on this achievement, stating, “He has a way of making up for things and leveling things out. Hitting two homers gets him back on track. His performance really allows us all to look forward with positivity.”
Despite a slight slowdown in performance over the past two weeks, a period in which Ohtani was named the National League (NL) Player of the Month for May, his overall capability was on full display against the Giants. Besides his homers, he managed to reach base four times and scored three runs with two walks among four at-bats.
This homerless stretch marks the first since 2023 for Ohtani, who consistently delivered at least 34 home runs and 95 RBIs over the previous four seasons.
Although Ohtani’s current stats reveal a smaller number of RBIs compared to last year, his desire to enhance his performance both at bat and on the mound remains strong. Ohtani, who has expressed no major connection between the two, has continued to invest time preparing to resume pitching.
Following a three-inning simulated pitching session in San Diego, there is anticipation that Ohtani will step onto the mound before the All-Star break in mid-July, according to manager Dave Roberts.
Ohtani highlighted the importance of his pitching preparation, stating, “The live BP is really an important part of the progression. It’s crucial for my body to experience this intensity as I ensure all feels right for competitive play.”
Remaining staunchly committed to perfecting his two-way role in the sport, Ohtani maintains his determination to pitch, an effort welcomed by the Dodgers, especially as their pitching staff faces injury challenges.
Ohtani reflected on his dual career in the MLB, sharing, “Being the two-way player I used to be was the norm. Last year was really the anomaly, and I’m focused on getting back to what I excel at the most.”