San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) greets San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (right) before batting during the first inning at Oracle Park. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Dodgers Superstar Shohei Ohtani Scoring Runs at Historic Pace

Originally posted on Fastball on SI | By Sam Connon | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 11:11 AM ET

The goal of baseball is, put simply, to score more runs than your opponent.

That alone makes Shohei Ohtani one of the most valuable players in baseball, to say nothing of his two-way talents or off-the-field stardom.

That Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter leads MLB with 91 runs through 95 games in 2025, on top of leading the National League with 32 home runs, 224 total bases and a .988 OPS. Ohtani also led MLB with 134 runs last year, en route to winning NL MVP honors.

Ohtani's runs have come in bunches, as well, as he has scored multiple runs in 27 games so far this season. According to OptaSTATS, that is good for the most a player has ever had entering the All-Star break.

The 31-year-old has scored multiple runs in 28.4% of his games so far this season, which puts him on pace for the highest percentage since World War II, minimum 50 games played. Hall of Fame first baseman Jimmie Foxx was the last player to post a percentage that high with a 29.8% mark.

Shohei Ohtani has 27 multi-run games, the most any player has had at the All-Star break.

He’s scored multiple runs in 28.4% (27/95) of his games this season, on pace to be the highest percentage in a season with 50+ games played since Jimmie Foxx in 1939 (29.8%). pic.twitter.com/d4yPqG45db
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) July 17, 2025

Ohtani owns a 4.3 WAR heading into the second half of the season, thanks to his production at the plate plus his 1.00 ERA, 0.778 WHIP and 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings through five outings on the mound.

The 10-year, $700 million contract the Dodgers gave Ohtani seems to be paying off and then some, especially considering Los Angeles is once again leading the NL West midway through July. If Ohtani can string together another historic statistical campaign, or if the club can cash in with another World Series title this fall, it will continue to be money well-spent.

This article first appeared on Fastball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: