A Look Back at Shohei Ohtani’s 2025 Season of Records — Best 7 Scenes

The Two-Way Superstar Returns

After hitting a career-high 55 home runs, earning his first pitching win in 749 days, and leading his team to a second consecutive World Series appearance, the legendary two-way player’s historic season has come to an end.

In his second year with the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani (31) accomplished countless feats—so many they defy description. So this magazine now looks back on the BEST moments of the returning two-way superstar, alongside the definitive scenes captured by the camera.

Ohtani’s 2025 season began at the Tokyo Dome.

In the March 18 season opener (Japan time) against the Cubs, Ohtani recorded two hits. The next day, on the 19th, he hit his first home run of the season. The long-awaited blast from both Japan and the U.S. barely cleared the right-field fence—a hit that made both fans and Ohtani himself anxious as it flew.

Baseball analyst Nachi Tomonari says that Ohtani’s three-run homer on May 10 against the Diamondbacks was one of this season’s BEST scenes.

“Roki Sasaki (23) was the starting pitcher that day, but he gave up two home runs in the first inning and struggled, leaving the game in the middle of the 5th. It turned into a slugfest, and with the score tied 11–11, Ohtani came up in the 9th inning.

With one out and runners on first and second—a perfect go-ahead opportunity—Ohtani crushed a low splitter. The ball soared into the right-field stands, and the Dodgers went on to win the game.

Once again, we were reminded of his incredible focus in clutch situations, and above all, the way he spread his arms confidently the moment he hit it—already knowing it was gone—was just incredibly cool.”

On June 17, Ohtani took the Major League mound for the first time in 663 days, immediately showing off a 100-mph (about 161 km/h) fastball. Former MLB pitcher Keiichi Yabu said, “As a fellow pitcher, seeing Ohtani pitching again in the majors made me as happy as if it were happening to me,” while recommending Ohtani’s first win of the season on August 28 as a “BEST scene.”

“In that game, what surprised me was not only his signature fastball and sweeper, but also the completeness of his new finishing pitches—his sinker and curveball. I was convinced he has clearly evolved compared to two years ago before his injury.

Although he gave up a solo home run in the 3rd inning, he calmly shut down the rest of the lineup. Then, in the 4th, he sparked a comeback with a single to right field, and left the mound after 5 innings with just one run allowed.

For a pitcher, when your team immediately shifts the momentum after you give up a run, it is incredibly reassuring. In Ohtani’s case, he literally does that himself, which is just terrifying—in a good way (laughs).”

Up to this point, we’ve highlighted the standout pitching and hitting moments of the regular season, but MLB analyst Ryoichi Fukushima chose something entirely different as his “BEST” scene — neither a 100-mph fastball nor a towering home run.

He said: “Ohtani’s behavior in the June 20 game against the Padres is what makes him the biggest star in Major League Baseball.”

He continued:

“In the top of the 9th, a pitch thrown by Dodgers reliever Jack Little (27) struck Padres slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. (26) on the right wrist. Since there had already been four hit-by-pitches over the previous two days, both managers and players rushed out of the dugouts, and a seven-minute standoff ensued.

The home plate umpire naturally ejected both managers and declared a warning game. In this tense atmosphere, Ohtani came to bat in the bottom of the 9th — and then was hit near his right shoulder by what was clearly a retaliatory pitch. Everyone braced for a bench-clearing brawl.

But Ohtani calmed his furious teammates, didn’t even glare at the pitcher, and jogged straight to first base. After the opposing pitcher was ejected, he even had the composure to walk over to the Padres’ dugout himself, eventually chatting and laughing with them.

This was a moment that could only happen because Ohtani is held in such high respect by opposing players — something only he could create.”

Toward the pinnacle of baseball

And so, after leading the team to its fourth consecutive division title, Ohtani smoothly advanced through the Wild Card and Division Series. Then came the moment when a new legend was born.

In Game 4 of the League Championship Series against the Brewers—where a win would secure a World Series berth—Ohtani delivered the ultimate display of two-way excellence: pitching into the seventh inning with no runs allowed and ten strikeouts, and hitting three home runs as a batter.

“What surprised me most in that game was the second home run. The pitch that Ohtani effortlessly launched out of the stadium was absolutely not a mistake. I can say this with certainty as a former pitcher. It was thrown to a perfect course, drifting from the strike zone into the ball zone—normally something that would result only in a foul ball or a routine grounder.

If that pitch gets hit like that, the battery simply has to tip their cap to Ohtani. That wasn’t just a home run—it was a swing that proved he is the best hitter in the world.” (Yabu)

Tomonari agrees.

“In that game, you could say Ohtani surpassed Babe Ruth. Since spring, he had been rehabbing specifically to pitch in the postseason—gradually increasing his innings and reintroducing his breaking pitches. It was a perfect performance where every gear meshed together.”

In Game 3 of the World Series against the Blue Jays—facing them in pursuit of a second straight championship—Ohtani delivered an unprecedented performance: 4-for-4 with two home runs, four intentional walks, one additional walk, and nine times reaching base.

His nine times on base in a single game and his third multi-home-run game in the same postseason were both MLB postseason records. His four extra-base hits tied him for only the second time in 119 years of World Series history.

The two-way superstar who has reached a level of baseball no one else has ever touched is sure to deliver countless more best moments next season.

From the November 14-21, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”