The legend of Shohei Ohtani continues to grow — and this time, he’s doing it in Dodgers blue.
In a moment that instantly entered the MLB history books, the two-way superstar will become the first National League player since 1953 to both start a game as a pitcher and bat in the leadoff spot, according to an announcement from the league. The only two others to achieve this feat since 1900 were Alvin Dark (Giants, 1953) and Jim Jones (Giants, 1900).
With the Dodgers looking to make a serious run for the World Series, Ohtani’s unprecedented role underscores just how central he’s become to their campaign. A pitcher with elite velocity and command, paired with the ability to hit leadoff and deliver power, speed, and on-base production? That’s not just rare — that’s historic.
Ohtani is already posting MVP-level stats on both sides of the ball. He’s leading the league in slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging (OPS), while also maintaining an elite ERA on the mound. No player in the National League — or all of baseball — comes close to matching his dual-threat dominance.
Ohtani’s role as a leadoff pitcher is more than a quirky stat — it signals a fundamental shift in how teams might use versatile stars in the future. While most leadoff hitters are speedsters with sharp contact skills, Ohtani brings not just those qualities but also the power of a cleanup hitter and the control of an ace.
Baseball purists and modern analysts alike are united in awe. As MLB’s tweet rapidly went viral, fans across the league celebrated another milestone in what is shaping up to be one of the most remarkable careers in baseball history.
“We are witnessing the Babe Ruth of our generation,” one analyst remarked. “And he might be even better.”