"In 2024, Ohtani was the Dodgers' exclusive designated hitter as he recovered from surgery that repaired a torn UCL. He more than delivered in his inaugural season with the Dodgers as he had one of the most dominant offensive seasons ever. He set career-highs in home runs, hits, runs scored, runs batted in, doubles, and stolen bases, and invented the 50 home run, 50 stolen base club, ending the 2024 campaign with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases."
"Ohtani capped off the season with a unanimous National League MVP award. In 2025, Ohtani made his Dodgers pitcher debut in June against the San Diego Padres. He tossed just one inning against the top of the Padres order as he began his ramp up for the playoffs. Ohtani averaged .282 with 55 home runs, 102 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.014 last season."
""In terms of the World Baseball Classic, I just have to see how my body feels and see what happens," Ohtani said about his two-way status."
Shohei Ohtani may pitch for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, contingent on how his body feels as he ramps up in the coming weeks. He is expected to be fully prepared to DH for Samurai Japan. The 2026 season will be his first full two-way season with the Dodgers, with both pitching and hitting duties. In 2024 he served exclusively as designated hitter while recovering from UCL surgery and finished with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, earning a unanimous NL MVP. In 2025 he debuted on the mound, recording a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings while hitting .282 with 55 home runs, 102 RBIs, and a 1.014 OPS, winning another unanimous NL MVP. He signed a landmark $700 million deal with the Dodgers and has earned two World Series rings since joining the team.
Read at Dodgers Nation
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]