Shohei Ohtani made history in spectacular fashion on Friday, becoming the first pitcher ever to hit a leadoff home run in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar accomplished the feat after striking out three Milwaukee Brewers batters in the top of the first inning of Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
Ohtani’s 446-foot blast to right field came off left-hander José Quintana and marked his third home run of the postseason - and second as a leadoff hitter. The shot snapped an eight-game hitting drought, his first long ball since belting two in the Wild Card Series opener against Cincinnati. Ohtani briefly admired the towering drive before rounding the bases, a moment that perfectly captured his rare blend of dominance as both pitcher and hitter.
On the mound, Ohtani was equally brilliant. He opened his second career postseason start by issuing a leadoff walk to Brice Turang but quickly settled in, overpowering Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, and William Contreras with a mix of 100 mph fastballs and sharp breaking pitches. His composure and electric stuff set the tone for the defending champions, who are aiming to complete a four-game sweep and secure another World Series berth.
Before Friday’s breakout, Ohtani had contributed little offensively during the Dodgers’ impressive playoff run, making his historic homer even more significant. The three-time MVP’s performance reinforced his reputation as baseball’s most extraordinary two-way talent, capable of reshaping a game from both the mound and the batter’s box. With Ohtani leading the charge, the Dodgers moved one step closer to returning to the World Series stage.
Before Game 4, Ohtani had been mired in a slump, going just 6-for-38 as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter during the postseason. The powerhouse slugger, who ranked third in the majors with 55 home runs during the regular season, hadn’t gone deep since September 30.
Ohtani’s 446-foot blast to right field came off left-hander José Quintana and marked his third home run of the postseason - and second as a leadoff hitter. The shot snapped an eight-game hitting drought, his first long ball since belting two in the Wild Card Series opener against Cincinnati. Ohtani briefly admired the towering drive before rounding the bases, a moment that perfectly captured his rare blend of dominance as both pitcher and hitter.
On the mound, Ohtani was equally brilliant. He opened his second career postseason start by issuing a leadoff walk to Brice Turang but quickly settled in, overpowering Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, and William Contreras with a mix of 100 mph fastballs and sharp breaking pitches. His composure and electric stuff set the tone for the defending champions, who are aiming to complete a four-game sweep and secure another World Series berth.
Before Friday’s breakout, Ohtani had contributed little offensively during the Dodgers’ impressive playoff run, making his historic homer even more significant. The three-time MVP’s performance reinforced his reputation as baseball’s most extraordinary two-way talent, capable of reshaping a game from both the mound and the batter’s box. With Ohtani leading the charge, the Dodgers moved one step closer to returning to the World Series stage.
Before Game 4, Ohtani had been mired in a slump, going just 6-for-38 as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter during the postseason. The powerhouse slugger, who ranked third in the majors with 55 home runs during the regular season, hadn’t gone deep since September 30.