Shohei Ohtani added another remarkable milestone to his career on Tuesday, becoming the fifth-fastest player in MLB history to reach 300 home runs. The Los Angeles Dodgers star reached the mark in his 1,102nd game as a batter, with only Juan González, Ryan Howard, Ralph Kiner, and Aaron Judge getting there in fewer appearances.
The milestone homer came in dramatic fashion, as Ohtani launched a leadoff home run against Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen. With that swing, he became just the second player alongside Steve Finley to record a leadoff shot for his 300th career homer.
Ohtani’s achievement also placed him among a select group of current players, with the two-way star becoming the 18th active MLB player to reach 300 career home runs.
Dodgers star continues impressive offensive run
The 31-year-old has maintained a strong season at the plate, producing a .297/.410/.546 batting line with 20 home runs and 56 RBIs. He has now reached the 20-homer mark in six straight seasons and has done so seven times since making his major-league debut in 2018.
Throughout his career as a designated hitter, Ohtani has posted a .283/.377/.579 slash line, collecting 1,144 hits, 725 RBIs, and 171 stolen bases across 1,121 MLB games.
According to ESPN Insights, Ohtani is the first player in MLB history to record at least 300 home runs and 100 stolen bases during his first nine seasons in the majors.
Pitching numbers make Ohtani’s record even more unique
Ohtani’s impact has extended beyond his offensive production, as he has also built an unusual pitching resume during his career. On the mound, he has accumulated 765 strikeouts over 614 1/3 innings.
Among players who have both reached 300 home runs and recorded at least one pitching strikeout, Ohtani leads by a significant margin. The closest comparison is Babe Ruth, who finished his career with 714 homers and 501 strikeouts as a pitcher, according to Langs.
Only six other players meet the same rare criteria, and none of them recorded more than 11 strikeouts while pitching.
Another chapter in Ohtani’s extraordinary career
Reaching 300 home runs has added another historic achievement to Ohtani’s already unusual career as a player who has excelled in both hitting and pitching roles.
His latest milestone combines his power at the plate, speed on the bases, and success on the mound, placing him in a category shared by very few players in baseball history.