Shohei Ohtani hit his 40th home run of the season on Saturday night, powering the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 9-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium. This milestone not only helped secure another Dodgers victory but also tied Ohtani with baseball legend Ted Williams for 40 home runs in a single season.
Ohtani Approaches Elite Company in Career Home Runs
With this achievement, Ohtani now shares a remarkable career milestone, having matched Williams’ total of 265 home runs within their first eight MLB seasons. Ohtani’s performance places him among the top home run hitters in baseball history during the early years of their careers, including players like Giancarlo Stanton, Ernie Banks, and Mark Teixeira.
According to recent statistics, the leaderboard for most home runs in a player’s first eight seasons features legends such as Ralph Kiner with 329 and Albert Pujols with 319. Ohtani is positioned closely with 265, alongside Ted Williams and Giancarlo Stanton, highlighting his place among the game’s elite power hitters.
“Most home runs within a player’s first 8 career MLB seasons:329- Ralph Kiner319- Pujols299- Eddie Mathews286- Ryan Howard278- Adam Dunn275- Mark Teixeira269- Ernie Banks267- Giancarlo Stanton265- Ohtani265- Ted Williams262- Frank Robinson260- Prince Fielder” —StatsCentre
Reflecting on Ted Williams’ Legendary Career
Ted Williams, widely considered one of the greatest pure hitters in baseball history, spent 19 seasons with the Boston Red Sox. Despite missing three prime years due to World War II military service, Williams earned 19 All-Star selections, finished with a career batting average of .344, and holds the highest on-base percentage ever recorded at .482.
Williams also led the major leagues in RBIs three times and famously was the last player to hit over .400 in a season, achieving a .406 batting average in 1941. Ohtani tying such a Hall of Famer underscores the caliber of his current season performance and career trajectory.
Ohtani’s Current Season and Future Prospects
Currently hitting .282 with an on-base plus slugging (OPS) near 1.000, Ohtani continues to demonstrate an extraordinary two-way talent as both a hitter and pitcher. His achievements this season position him as a strong contender for his fourth Most Valuable Player Award.
The Dodgers, riding this momentum, are scheduled to face the Blue Jays again on Sunday afternoon, with a first pitch planned for 4:10 p.m. ET. Tyler Glasnow will start on the mound for Los Angeles against Toronto’s Eric Lauer, extending the team’s pursuit of postseason success.