Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way star Shohei Ohtani (31) finally broke out of his hitting slump, smashing his seventh home run of the season in Tuesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Batting leadoff as the designated hitter, Ohtani launched a go-ahead solo shot to left field in the bottom of the third inning, marking his first home run since April 26.
The blast ended a 12-game drought for Ohtani as a batter, a stretch that included a career-worst five-game hitless streak from April 29 to May 4 following his move to the Dodgers. He had shown signs of recovery with back-to-back multi-hit performances on May 6 (a double and a single) and had hits in three straight games since, but the long ball had remained elusive. To shake off the slump, Ohtani even took extra outdoor batting practice on May 11, a routine he rarely uses.
Last season, Ohtani hit seven homers in April before exploding for a career-high-tying 15 homers in May. This year, his first home run of May came in his 10th game of the month, offering hope that he can replicate that hot streak. Through 42 team games, his seven homers put him on pace for 27 this season—a solid but unspectacular number compared to his MVP-caliber years.
The home run also carried historical significance: It was Ohtani’s first homer in a game started by teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto since September 25 of last year, his 11th career homer against the Giants (his longtime rival from his New York days), and his 62nd at Dodger Stadium.
Ohtani’s career home run totals by year: 22 (2018), 18 (2019), 7 (2020), 46 (2021), 34 (2022), 44 (2023, AL home run champion), 54 (2024, NL home run champion), and 5 so far in 2025. With his power seemingly returning, the two-time home run king is aiming to reclaim the title for the first time since 2023.