Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani First MLB Player to Reach 20 Home Runs in 2025

Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball to reach 20 home runs in the 2025 season, achieving this milestone faster than in any previous year by doing so in the Dodgers' 55th game. His two-run homer off Tanner Bibee of the Cleveland Guardians extended the Dodgers' lead and marked his third consecutive game with a home run. Ohtani joined Dodgers legends Gil Hodges and Cody Bellinger as the only players in franchise history to hit 20 homers within the first 55 games and is currently leading the majors in home runs. His current batting slash is an impressive .297/.395/.660, and his production puts him as the favorite for the 2025 National League MVP award. Despite not pitching since elbow surgery in 2023, Ohtani is expected to return to the Dodgers’ rotation in the second half of the season while maintaining his status as one of the best hitters in the league. Additionally, Ohtani is on pace for nearly 60 home runs this season, with 13 homers in May already tying him for the third-most in a single calendar month in Dodgers history.