Ohtani Powers Dodgers with Back-to-Back Leadoff Homers

27 May at 11:00 am

3629 posts

Ohtani Powers Dodgers with Back-to-Back Leadoff Homers/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Shohei Ohtani launched a leadoff homer for the second consecutive game, continuing his power surge in May. The Dodgers superstar now leads the majors with 19 home runs, including five as a leadoff hitter. Manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani’s discipline and hinted at upcoming rehab progress on his pitching.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) is congratulated by manager Dave Roberts, left, after the team defeated the Cleveland Guardians in a baseball game, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Ohtani’s May Power Surge: Quick Looks

Consecutive Leadoff Homers: Hit leadoff homers in two straight games for second time in career
May Dominance: Leads MLB with 12 home runs this month
Historic Pace: 19 homers through 54 games matches elite Dodgers history
Pitching Progress: Set for bullpen session Thursday amid elbow rehab
Aggressive at the Plate: Second first-pitch homer of 2025 season
Dodgers Win: Helped L.A. to 7-2 victory over Cleveland
Manager Praise: Dave Roberts lauds Ohtani’s early-pitch aggression
Batting Average Surge: Up to .305 in May from career .259

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) scores on an RBI single by Teoscar Hernandez (not shown) during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Ohtani Powers Dodgers with Back-to-Back Leadoff Homers

Deep Look

Shohei Ohtani Powers Dodgers with Second Consecutive Leadoff Homer in Stellar May Run

CLEVELAND — Shohei Ohtani’s bat is sizzling in May, and for the second time in his illustrious MLB career, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has launched leadoff home runs in back-to-back games. In Monday night’s 7-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians, Ohtani crushed his 19th home run of the season—an inside fastball from Gavin Williams—into the right-field stands at Progressive Field.

That homer not only secured Ohtani’s place atop the MLB home run leaderboard but also etched his name alongside franchise legends. According to MLB, he becomes just the fourth player in Dodgers history to record at least 19 homers through the team’s first 54 games. The elite list includes Cody Bellinger (2019), Roy Campanella (1955), and Gil Hodges (1951).

A Historic Month for Ohtani

May has often been a slow month for Ohtani’s power game, with a career average of .259 during this stretch from 2018 to 2024. But this year, he’s rewriting the narrative—batting .305 and leading all of baseball with 12 homers this month alone. His 23 RBIs in May also rank him fifth across the league.

This latest home run marked his fifth leadoff blast of the season and the 17th of his MLB career since debuting in 2018. Notably, it was the second time this year that Ohtani homered on the very first pitch of the game—showcasing his aggressive, yet calculated, approach at the plate.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised that very aggression, noting, “Shohei is always going to be aggressive early. I think it was more control over command. It was a high-velocity fastball. [Williams] was set up away and yanked it down into his nitro zone.”

Dodgers Manager on Ohtani’s Bat and Arm

Roberts also gave updates on Ohtani’s long-awaited return to pitching. Ohtani, recovering from a September 19, 2023, procedure on his right elbow, is now entering an advanced stage in his rehab. He’s expected to throw a bullpen session during the team’s off day on Thursday after a successful batting session against live hitters on Sunday.

“He did come out of yesterday feeling good,” Roberts confirmed.

The dual-threat superstar has not pitched since the 2023 season but is inching closer to rejoining the Dodgers’ rotation, possibly later this year or in 2026.

Leadoff Spark Plug

Ohtani’s impact at the top of the lineup cannot be overstated. His leadoff home run on Monday set the tone early for the Dodgers’ offense, helping them establish control over the game from the outset. It was also a moment of personal achievement—matching his 2024 feat when he went yard in consecutive games against the Chicago White Sox on June 25-26.

Gavin Williams, who served up the pitch, has now allowed three first-pitch homers in 2025—tied for the most in MLB with the Athletics’ Jeffrey Springs, Milwaukee’s Nestor Cortes, and Boston’s Tanner Houck.

Consistency and Excellence

While Shohei Ohtani is no stranger to headline-making performances, his consistency and upward trend this May highlight a new level in his already exceptional game. His improvements at the plate, coupled with a near-future return to the mound, have Dodgers fans dreaming of what might be a historic two-way season.

With the Dodgers currently surging in the National League, Ohtani’s contributions at the plate—and soon again from the mound—may very well define the franchise’s 2025 success.