Shohei Ohtani recently returned to the mound for the Dodgers, adding more depth to his game—but his latest feat has nothing to do with pitching and everything to do with his power at the plate. Ohtani just matched a milestone last seen in 1954, set by none other than Willie Mays.
“Shohei Ohtani becomes the first player since Willie Mays in 1954 to record 28 home runs and 6 triples through the first 80 games of the season,” OptaStats reported on X, highlighting another remarkable achievement by the Japanese star, who’s putting together yet another standout season.
It’s not the only record Ohtani has broken this year—he recently made MLB history with another major milestone. But what he’s doing at the plate this season is especially impressive, posting a .291 batting average along with over 90 hits and 50 RBIs already on the board.
Ohtani Creates His Own 50-50 Club
Last season, Ohtani entered the 50-50 club, a space he occupies entirely on his own. To gain entry, he not only surpassed Ronald Acuña Jr.’s mark of 41 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season, but also overshadowed Willie Mays’ similar achievement of 50 home runs and 24 stolen bases set in 1955.
In 2025, Ohtani also set a new record as both a pitcher and batter, a feat not seen since 1952, with a record for a home run, triple, and multiple pitching strikeouts without allowing any runs. In the last century, this accomplishment was established by Johnny Klippstein.
Willie Mays: A Difficult Act to Follow
Willie Mays holds numerous records throughout his MLB career. His 660 home runs will forever be etched in league history as something few have achieved. And his All-Star Game records for most at-bats (75), hits (23), and runs scored (20), among others, are benchmarks that few will be able to surpass in their careers.
