Shohei Ohtani Dominates MLB Headlines with Historic Return to the Mound and Offensive Milestones

LOS ANGELES, CA – June 17, 2025 – Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way sensation, has once again seized the spotlight in Major League Baseball with a headline-grabbing return to pitching and a string of historic offensive achievements.

On June 16, Ohtani made his highly anticipated first pitching start since his recovery, taking the mound against the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers’ star right-hander threw 28 pitches—16 for strikes—clocking his fastball and sinker near 98 mph and touching 100 mph during the frame. Ohtani allowed one run on two hits in a single inning before being replaced by Anthony Banda, but he made his presence felt at the plate, recording an RBI double in the third inning to tie the game and adding a second RBI single in the fourth as the Dodgers rallied for a 6-2 lead. Ohtani did not factor in the decision but contributed significantly on both sides of the ball.

Ohtani’s offensive prowess remains unmatched. On June 14, he blasted his 250th career home run—his second of the night—helping the Dodgers secure an 11-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants. The milestone made Ohtani the fastest player in MLB history to reach 250 home runs and 150 stolen bases, surpassing Alex Rodriguez’s previous mark. His 25th home run of the season also tied him for the most leadoff homers through 71 games in a season and matched the Dodgers’ franchise record for homers in that span.

With nearly 1.4 million votes, Ohtani currently leads all National League players in All-Star voting, positioning him as a leading candidate for an automatic All-Star bid ahead of the June 26 cutoff.

Ohtani’s influence extends far beyond the diamond. In Japan, local artists have honored him with unique manhole cover designs, celebrating his contributions to MLB alongside other Japanese stars like Yu Darvish and Kodai Senga. These covers will be installed across Japan, underscoring Ohtani’s global impact and continued role as a cultural ambassador for the sport.

As Ohtani resumes his two-way dominance, fans and analysts alike are watching closely, with many considering him the face of modern baseball and a frontrunner for further accolades in 2025.