• Shohei Ohtani hits back-to-back leadoff home runs, leading the MLB in May with 12 homers and showing his power early in games.
• Ohtani’s hot streak raises his batting average to .305 for May, far above his career average for the month.
• He continues his elbow rehab and may throw a bullpen session soon after feeling strong facing live hitters.

Shohei Ohtani continues to shine in May. On Monday night, he blasted a leadoff home run for the second game in a row. This marks just the second time in his MLB career he has done this. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-2, and Ohtani set the tone early. He took the first pitch from Gavin Williams and launched it deep into the right-field seats. That home run gave him a league-leading total of 19 this season. Ohtani now joins Dodgers legends like Cody Bellinger, Roy Campanella, and Gil Hodges. They are the only players in franchise history to hit at least 19 homers in the team’s first 54 games.

Ohtani Shows Power Early and Often in the Game

Ohtani keeps showing why he’s one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball. He doesn’t wait long to attack pitchers. On Monday, he crushed the first pitch of the game. That was the second time this year he hit a home run on the first pitch. Since arriving in the MLB in 2018, Ohtani has now hit 17 leadoff home runs. Five of those have come this season. That kind of fast start gives the Dodgers early momentum. It also puts pressure on opposing pitchers right away. Gavin Williams couldn’t recover after that opening blast. Ohtani’s quick strike gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead and sent a message to the Guardians.

Gavin Williams Struggles With First-Pitch Pitches

Gavin Williams has now allowed three home runs on the first pitch this season. That ties him with Jeffrey Springs from the Athletics, Nestor Cortes from Milwaukee, and Tanner Houck from Boston for the most in the league. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts talked about Ohtani’s approach at the plate. “Shohei is always going to be aggressive early,” Roberts said. He explained that Williams aimed the pitch outside but lost control. The ball ended up low and inside, which is exactly where Ohtani likes it. Roberts called it Ohtani’s “nitro zone,” where he does the most damage. Williams made a small mistake, and Ohtani didn’t miss.

Ohtani Repeats History With Back-to-Back Leadoff Home Runs

This isn’t the first time Ohtani has hit leadoff home runs in consecutive games. He did the same thing last season on June 25 and 26 against the Chicago White Sox. Ohtani continues to prove that his talent goes beyond just power. His timing, vision, and confidence make him tough to pitch to. Pitchers know they can’t afford to miss, especially on the first pitch. But even when they try to avoid his power zone, Ohtani still finds a way to make them pay.

Ohtani Dominates in May With Home Runs and RBIs

May has been Ohtani’s best month this season. He now leads all players with 12 home runs in May alone. He also has 23 RBIs, ranking fifth in the league this month. His hot bat has raised his average to .305 in May. That’s a big improvement over his usual performance during this month. From 2018 to 2024, Ohtani hit just .259 in May. This year, he’s taken his game to the next level. He looks locked in at the plate. Pitchers can’t seem to find a way to slow him down. Every time he steps up, he creates scoring chances or drives in runs.

Ohtani Feels Strong in Elbow Rehab After Surgery

Before Monday’s game, Dave Roberts shared some more good news. Ohtani continues to recover well from elbow surgery. He had the operation on September 19, 2023. On Sunday, Ohtani faced live hitters for the first time as part of his rehab. Roberts said Ohtani felt great afterward. That progress opens the door for the next step in his recovery. Roberts said Ohtani will likely throw a bullpen session on Thursday, which is the team’s next off day. If that goes well, Ohtani will move one step closer to pitching again. He remains focused and determined to return stronger.