Shohei Ohtani is doing issues we’ve by no means seen on a baseball subject earlier than.
That is perhaps an apparent assertion for you, the reader, however there’s by no means a foul time to recount his heroics of latest years. The 2-way phenomenon has received three straight MVPs, the latter two coming with the Dodgers, whereas Ohtani has helped lead Los Angeles to back-to-back World Sequence titles.
Everyone knows about among the apparent causes for Ohtani’s success: he’s barreled extra baseballs than any hitter since 2024, he’s fourth in stolen bases (79) in that point and he returned to the mound in ‘25 wanting higher than ever. What is maybe underreported with Ohtani, if that’s potential, is how he’s shored up earlier weaknesses to change into a complete and full celebrity.
Let’s check out among the underrated keys for Ohtani’s success, particularly his work as a hitter.
No pitch sort is protected towards Ohtani
In Ohtani’s first three MLB seasons with the Angels, he was a power towards fastballs, slugging a wholesome .586 towards heaters and crushing 36 dwelling runs in 556 plate appearances. In opposition to breaking balls and offspeed pitches, nevertheless, Ohtani was extra susceptible, solely slugging .396 with 11 dwelling runs on non-fastballs.
Starting with Ohtani’s breakout 2021 season with the Angels that resulted in his first MVP award, we started seeing indicators of a maturing hitter who began pummeling all pitches. That success towards fastballs, breaking balls and offspeed pitches alike has solely gotten stronger since his remaining season with the Angels in 2023.
Ohtani’s pitch sort success by yr, since 2021
2021: .630 SLG vs. fastballs / .557 SLG vs. non-fastballs2022: .582 SLG vs. fastballs / .460 SLG vs. non-fastballs2023: .783 SLG vs. fastballs / .558 SLG vs. non-fastballs2024: .577 SLG vs. fastballs / .714 SLG vs. non-fastballs2025: .648 SLG vs. fastballs / .595 SLG vs. non-fastballs
To essentially hammer dwelling this level additional, you may see what Ohtani has achieved towards every pitch group since he joined the Dodgers by dwelling runs towards pitch sorts and his run worth, basically the sum of a batter’s complete contributions (on this case, his run worth towards particular pitch sorts).
Ohtani’s ranks in dwelling runs and run worth towards pitch teams, since 2024
1st in dwelling runs towards breaking balls (37)1st in dwelling runs towards offspeed pitches (17)1st in run worth towards breaking balls (+49)1st in run worth towards offspeed pitches (+27)4th in run worth towards fastballs (+57)fifth in dwelling runs towards fastballs (103)
That’ll play. Whether or not it’s dwelling runs or total contribution, Ohtani has been a high 5 hitter towards fastballs, breaking balls and offspeed pitches. That sort of success towards all pitches places pitchers in an inconceivable place, particularly contemplating the supporting forged Ohtani has.
In 2025, there have been eight pitch sorts that Ohtani completed not less than 20 plate appearances towards. Seven of these pitch sorts resulted in not less than a .571 SLG, whereas the lone pitch under .500 was a .488 SLG in 49 plate appearances towards sweepers.
Ohtani has come a good distance since posting a .654 OPS in 110 plate appearances towards left-handed pitching as a rookie.
As soon as once more referencing his breakout 2021 season with the Angels, you may see the clear enhancements towards southpaws.
Ohtani vs. left-handed pitching, by season
2018: .654 OPS, 2 HR (110 plate appearances)2019: .794 OPS, 3 HR (116 PA)2020: .629 OPS, 1 HR (54 PA)2021: .980 OPS, 18 HR (224 PA)2022: .787 OPS, 9 HR (228 PA)2023: .898 OPS, 11 HR (170 PA)2024: .867 OPS, 12 HR (249 PA)2025: .898 OPS, 15 HR (244 PA)
Ohtani was platooned steadily when he first joined the Angels, so it’s potential that extra reps and expertise helped him enhance on this regard. You’ll discover that Ohtani had 216 mixed plate appearances towards lefties in his first two seasons however had 224 such alternatives towards them in 2021.
It additionally helped that Ohtani dropped his strikeout charge by a reasonably important margin towards southpaws. From 2018-20, Ohtani struck out in 31.1 p.c of plate appearances towards lefties. From 2021-25, that determine dropped to 26.7 p.c. Merely permitting Ohtani to place the ball in play extra towards left-handers has created extra alternatives for him to do harm.
As Ohtani has developed into a real celebrity hitter, dealing with all pitch sorts from each righties and lefties alike, he’s additionally began getting extra baseballs within the air.
After working a 56.0 p.c airball charge — the share of batted balls which are flyballs, line drives or pop-ups — as a rookie in 2018, that determine was a tick above 50 p.c in each 2019 and ‘20. That meant that half of Ohtani’s batted balls ended up on the bottom, a suboptimal final result for hitters together with his sort of pop.
That pattern shifted throughout the 2021 breakout, with Ohtani posting an airball charge better than 55 p.c in every season, whereas additionally exceeding 60 p.c in three seasons. Whereas Ohtani produced a 52.5 p.c airball charge from 2018-20, that determine has skyrocketed to 59.9 p.c since 2021.
The professionals to getting the ball within the air are apparent. Ohtani’s energy potential was clear when he debuted however placing half of his batted balls on the bottom restricted his output. Since 2021, when Ohtani has gotten roughly 60 p.c of his batted balls within the air, he’s slugged 233 dwelling runs, second within the Majors behind Aaron Decide’s 249 lengthy balls.
Put all of those components collectively and also you’ve seen Ohtani change into some of the full hitters in baseball. Sure, Ohtani has loads of swing and miss — his 33.4 p.c whiff charge ranked within the 4th percentile in 2025 — however that comes with the territory with energy hitters of this mildew. And since he’s excelling in each different space, it’s mainly a moot level.
At 31 years outdated, Ohtani is exhibiting no indicators of slowing down on both facet of the ball. Together with his enhancements throughout the board, there’s no purpose to anticipate his generational run to finish any time quickly.
