Los Angeles Dodgers Designated Hitter Shohei Ohtani has continued adding to his impressive resume in the National League. He has 89 home runs through his first two seasons in the National League. That is tied with Jim Thome for the most home runs by any player in either league in MLB history. Mark McGwire hit 94 home runs in his first two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. Ohtani should break McGwire’s record sometime in August.
Ohtani is putting together another MVP-caliber campaign. He is fourth in the league in home runs, 13th in RBI, second in Slugging Percentage, and second in OPS. He also has a sterling 1.50 ERA on the mound. He will continue pitching further into games as he tries to ramp up that part of his game. Will the Japanese phenom continue making history over the summer?
Shohei Ohtani Career Summary
Shohei Ohtani has 89 home runs through his first two seasons in the National League, which is tied for the second most by any player in his first two years in either league in MLB history.
– Mark McGwire (STL) hit 94 in 1997-98
– Jim Thome (PHI) hit 89 in 2003-04 pic.twitter.com/KuHA12IXm7— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) July 22, 2025
Ohtani’s accolades are too numerous to list. He is a five-time MLB All-Star, three-time MVP, three-time Silver Slugger, Rookie of the Year, and World Series champion. He is one of the most talented players to ever appear in Major League Baseball. When he signed his contract with the Dodgers in December 2023, it was the richest in North American professional sports history. One year, Juan Soto set the record for the largest contract in history.
Final Thoughts
Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers return to the diamond tonight at home against the Minnesota Twins. The reigning National League MVP is the odds-on favorite to win the award again this season. He will look to break McGwire’s record and add another accolade to his ledger.
