Shohei Ohtani's recent hot streak shows offensive concerns were overblown

While his overall numbers are below his normal production — he's now hitting .272 with seven home runs, 25 RBI, 31 runs scored and six stolen bases — his recent stretch and MLB career to this point show his rough April was more of an aberration than anything to worry about. 

There's even a sense of it being almost unreasonable to expect Ohtani, or any player, to avoid a less-than-stellar month or two nine years into a career. Someone who's won three straight MVPs, largely due to his offense, didn't just forget how to hit. 

Shohei Ohtani has done more than enough to show a track record of power 

Ohtani also crushed a career-high 55 home runs in 2025 to go along with his 102 RBI, 20 steals and a slash line of .282/.392/.622. And that was far from his best overall season to date. He then sent eight more balls over the fence in the playoffs, helping the Dodgers win their second consecutive World Series title. 

Ohtani became the charter member of MLB's 50/50 club, slugging 54 homers and swiping 59 bases in 2024. He finished that season with a .310 average, too. 

Shohei Ohtani is very much in the MVP race again 

Even though he may not ever reach his unparalleled 2024 season again, Ohtani is still dangerous offensively. His offensive season, as is coupled with his work as a pitcher — he's 3-2 with an eye-popping 0.82 ERA and 50 strikeouts — still keeps him in the MVP conversation.

Set to pitch and hit in the same game for the first time in over a month on Wednesday night, Ohtani now has an opportunity to quiet his doubters even more and continue making his case as the most well-rounded and unique player in baseball history. 

Just nine seasons into his MLB career, Ohtani has 287 home runs, 694 RBI and 171 stolen bases. He also has 42 wins and a cumulative 2.83 ERA as a pitcher. 

Ohtani was always going to come around, and no matter what his final numbers look like, he's already accomplished enough — five All-Star bids, four total MVP awards, four Silver Sluggers and the 2018 Rookie of the Year — to argue as being among the game's greatest legends.