Look, everyone knows Shohei Ohtani is good. That's not exactly a hot take anymore. But what happened during his first two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers has honestly rewritten the rulebook on what a human being can do on a baseball diamond.
When he signed that massive $700 million contract back in December 2023, people were skeptical. Not about the talent—you'd have to be living under a rock to doubt that—but about the logistics. $680 million deferred? Only making $2 million a year for a decade? It sounded like some kind of weird financial sorcery.
It turns out it was just Ohtani being Ohtani. He wanted the Dodgers to have the cash to surround him with winners. And man, did it work.
The 50-50 Myth and the 2024 Reality
Before 2024, if you told a baseball scout that a designated hitter coming off elbow surgery would hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases, they’d laugh you out of the room. It’s a "Madden" stat. It's not supposed to happen in the big leagues.
Then came September 19 in Miami.
Basically, Ohtani decided to have the single greatest game in the history of the sport. He went 6-for-6. He hit three home runs. He drove in 10 runs. Oh, and he stole two bases just for fun. By the time the dust settled on the 2024 regular season, the Shohei Ohtani LA Dodgers era had its first legendary mark: 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.
You've gotta realize he did this while he couldn't even pick up a ball to pitch. He was strictly a DH. Most guys would use that "off-year" from pitching to just relax and focus on their swing. Instead, Ohtani turned into Rickey Henderson with the power of Giancarlo Stanton.
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He didn't just join the 50-50 club. He created it.
The most underrated part of that year? The efficiency. He was only caught stealing four times. Think about that. He had a 93.7% success rate while being the most watched man on the planet.
Why 2025 Was Actually More Impressive
If 2024 was about the "Show," 2025 was about the "Grind."
Last year, Ohtani did something even more difficult than hitting 50 homers: he came back to the mound. Recovering from a second major UCL surgery is a nightmare. Most pitchers never look the same. But by June 17, 2025, he was back starting games for the Dodgers.
He didn't just "eat innings" either. He finished the 2025 season with a 2.87 ERA over 47 innings. He was striking out guys at a clip of nearly 12 per nine innings.
Meanwhile, at the plate? He just kept mashing.
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- Home Runs: 55 (a new career high)
- OPS: 1.014
- MVPs: He grabbed his fourth overall, and second in a Dodgers uniform.
The Dodgers didn't just get a superstar; they got a back-to-back World Series champion. After taking down the Yankees in 2024, the Shohei Ohtani LA Dodgers squad repeated in 2025. Winning a Game 7 of the World Series against the Blue Jays while pitching 2.1 innings and getting on base three times as a hitter is the kind of stuff they'll be talking about in 100 years.
The Financial "Loophole" That Actually Benefits the Fans
We have to talk about the money because people still get it wrong.
Basically, Ohtani is taking almost nothing right now. Because $680 million of his $700 million deal is deferred until 2034, his "present-day value" for the luxury tax is only about $46 million a year.
This is why the Dodgers could go out and sign guys like Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and eventually Kyle Tucker. If Ohtani took his $70 million a year upfront, the Dodgers' payroll would be paralyzed.
Instead, he’s living off his endorsements—which are rumored to be north of $100 million a year now. He’s the face of New Balance, Beats by Dre, and half the brands in Japan. He doesn't need the Dodgers' $2 million salary to pay his mortgage in La Cañada Flintridge.
What’s Next in 2026?
We are currently sitting in January 2026, and the hype for the upcoming season is already stupid high.
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Ohtani is healthy. He’s not rehabbing. He’s not limited. For the first time since he moved to Blue Heaven, he’s going into Spring Training as a full-time, two-way threat from Day 1.
He’s sitting at 280 career home runs. He needs 20 to hit 300. He’ll probably get that by June. He’s also looking at the World Baseball Classic again in March, where he'll likely headline Japan's roster. The man does not sleep.
If you’re a Dodgers fan, you’re witnessing the absolute peak of a talent we may never see again. Not in our lifetime, anyway.
How to Follow Shohei Ohtani This Season
- Watch the Pitch Count: In 2026, expect the Dodgers to be careful. They want him for the playoffs, not just April. Don't be surprised if he stays on a six-man rotation.
- Track the 300 HR Mark: This is the big milestone for 2026. He's chasing the record for most homers by a Japanese-born player, a title he already took from Hideki Matsui.
- Don't Ignore the Defense: There are still whispers he might play some outfield if the pitching load gets too heavy, but for now, the DH/SP combo is the gold standard.
The Shohei Ohtani LA Dodgers partnership is already the most successful free-agent signing in sports history. Two years, two World Series rings, two MVPs, and one 50-50 season.
Honestly, it's just getting started.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on his velocity in Spring Training. If he's hitting 98 mph in February, the rest of the league is in serious trouble. You should also check the Dodgers' schedule for the interleague games—seeing him hit in American League parks where he spent years with the Angels is always a trip.