Shohei Ohtani 2025: Bold Predictions for Batting, HRs, and Stolen Bases!

Stolen bases may decrease, but over a .300 average and 60 home runs!?

The two-way samurai is finally back.

Last year, Shohei Ohtani (30) of the Dodgers achieved an unprecedented 54-59 and was crowned world champion. This year, after about two years, he will return to the mound in Major League Baseball. What kind of performance can we expect from the superstar who has returned? Former Major Leaguer Ryota Igarashi, Major League reporter for 50 years Ryoichi Fukushima, and sports writer and Major League critic Nachi Tomonari engage in a heated discussion.

Fukushima: Last year, after moving from the Angels to the Dodgers, his environment changed drastically, yet he had an otherworldly performance, winning the home run title for the second year in a row, his first RBI title, and even coming close to the Triple Crown. It was his best season, wasn’t it?

Igarashi: It was truly out of this world. He put up those numbers while still rehabbing his right elbow (laughs).

Tomonari: Exactly. He focused only on hitting last season, but no one could have predicted he’d achieve “50-50.” In a good way, Ohtani surprised us.

Igarashi: Regarding stolen bases, I expected him to increase his attempts since he was practicing starting from camp. However, I never thought he’d extend his record to 59 stolen bases, surpassing Ichiro’s (56 stolen bases).

Fukushima: However, this season, there’s also the expectation of his return as a pitcher. In that case, stolen bases will likely decrease, right?

Igarashi: Since there’s a risk of injury, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (52) likely doesn’t want to push him too hard. I think Ohtani understands that as well. Given the dislocated left shoulder incident in the World Series, he’ll likely proceed with caution. I predict he’ll settle around 20 stolen bases.

Tomonari: I also predict about 16 stolen bases. The recovery from his dislocation seems good, but the left shoulder is still important for a right-handed pitcher.

Igarashi: Fortunately, it wasn’t his throwing arm, but in baseball, balance is important. I hope he fully recovers. If there’s still discomfort, he might compensate by overusing other parts of his body, which could lead to injuries elsewhere.

Fukushima: We want him to fully heal both his right elbow and left shoulder, and we hope he performs as well or even better than last season. This season, we’re expecting the return of the “two-way” player. What kind of numbers do you think he’ll post as a batter?

Tomonari: I believe his performance will drop slightly due to his return as a pitcher. Last year, he had an environment where he could focus only on hitting. However, with his return as a pitcher in 2023, balancing both hitting and pitching might be challenging. I predict his batting average will drop to .280, with about 40 home runs. Even so, those are still incredible numbers.

Igarashi: Indeed, balancing both pitching and hitting will be physically and mentally exhausting. However, knowing Ohtani, I believe he’ll still hit over .300 and 50 home runs!

Fukushima: I agree with Igarashi’s prediction, but I’m expecting even more—over 60 home runs. He has the physicality and power to match Yankees’ Aaron Judge (32), and since 2022, his home run numbers have increased by 10 each year: 34, 44, and 54. If this pace continues, reaching 60 home runs is definitely possible.

Tomonari: Joining the Dodgers, with one of the strongest lineups in Major League Baseball, has reduced the number of intentional walks and walks he faced compared to his time with the Angels. That has contributed to the increase in his home runs.

Igarashi: Over 60 home runs is quite a bold prediction. But, considering Ohtani, it’s definitely within the realm of possibility. He’s always exceeded our expectations (laughs).