Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is already in midseason form. The three-time All-Star has been a central part of the Dodgers' hot start, slashing .364/.426/.685 with 10 homers and 25 RBI.
His most recent homer was a 464-foot moonshot against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday afternoon. It was also Ohtani's second dinger of the game, and he finished 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
The long ball went viral on social media, with several users on X marveling at the all-time great's skill. @rbhockey6 dubbed Ohtani the “best hitter on the planet,” while @Disneybeachlv called the homer a “SHO doubter.”
It's no surprise that the Japanese international has been raking at the plate this year. Ohtani won't be able to pitch until next season due to his Tommy John surgery, so he has nothing else to do but focus on hitting at the moment. The two-time AL MVP was already an elite hitter before, so this new development has been a scary sight for opponents.
Currently, Ohtani is tied for first in the MLB in home runs. How likely is it that he will win his third MVP this year?
Shohei Ohtani is on pace to win NL MVP if he continues on this pace for the Dodgers
With Ohtani currently leading the NL in batting average, home runs, slugging, and OPS, he is the clear frontrunner to win the NL MVP at this point. However, it's still early, and things can change throughout the season.
Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna shares the NL lead with 10 homers. However, he trails Ohtani in every other major category other than RBI.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm is the only one close to Ohtani in batting average, sporting a .360 mark. The next-closest is Dodgers teammate Mookie Betts at .352.
If Ohtani continues to clobber these types of homers while also hitting for contact, not only could he win MVP, but Los Angeles could be lifting hardware in October. The combination of him, Betts, and Freddie Freeman is a formidable trio for opposing pitchers to deal with daily.
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