Shohei Ohtani is on a historical run that’s captivating baseball fans nationwide.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ designated hitter is making June a month to remember, particularly with his recent performances. Over the last seven games, dating back to last Sunday, Ohtani has maintained a hitting streak, managing at least one hit per game and delivering multiple hits in five of those matchups. Impressively, he’s homered in his last three appearances, totaling six homers over this period.
His contributions go beyond just hits and home runs; Ohtani has entered the Dodgers’ record books. He’s consistently achieved an extra-base hit, scored at least once, and knocked in a minimum of one RBI in each of the past seven games, setting a new franchise milestone. This accomplishment outpaces former Dodgers Carl Furillo and Pedro Guerrero, who each had a streak of six games.
To put Ohtani’s achievement in broader context, his seven-game streak with at least an extra-base hit, a run, and an RBI is a record for the Dodgers. Historical figures like Carl Furillo (1949) and Pedro Guerrero (1985) previously achieved six consecutive games with such stats. In the last three decades, only Bobby Abreu (10 games), Chase Utley (9), Joey Votto (8), and Jorge Cantú (8) have had longer streaks in the MLB, as noted by Eric Stephen.
Looking ahead, Ohtani has the opportunity to chase the MLB record in this category. Bobby Abreu currently holds the distinction with a 10-game streak, a benchmark Ohtani could surpass if his remarkable form continues.
This streak is a testament to why the Dodgers secured Ohtani with a stunning $700 million deal this offseason. Besides this franchise record, he has also set the record for the most homers by a Japanese-born player in MLB.
Ohtani’s current season stats are extraordinary, boasting a .321 batting average, .398 on-base percentage, and a .632 slugging percentage. He leads the MLB in batting average and ranks in the top five for slugging percentage, home runs, hits, runs scored, and total bases.
Ohtani’s June exploits are a clear indicator of his unparalleled value to the Dodgers and his distinguished place in the annals of baseball history.