Shohei Ohtani made a powerful statement Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, blasting two home runs to end a 10-game drought and help the Los Angeles Dodgers cruise to a 7–3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Ohtani, who entered the game without a homer since June 1, crushed a 451-foot solo shot in the third inning and followed it with a 403-footer in the seventh. It marked his first multi-home run game as a Dodger, much to the delight of the sold-out home crowd.
“I was definitely aware of it,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “But I just stayed focused on making good swings.”
📉 Breaking the Slump
Ohtani had been quietly struggling at the plate, going 0-for-14 earlier in the week and seeing his power numbers dip. Despite still leading the team in RBIs and OPS, the lack of long balls had fans and analysts wondering if something was off.
Saturday’s breakout performance erased any doubt.
His first homer came off Royals starter Brady Singer, a no-doubt shot into the right-field pavilion. The second came on a hanging slider that Ohtani didn’t miss — putting the game out of reach and sending the Dodgers’ dugout into celebration mode.
🔥 Dodgers Offense Wakes Up
Ohtani wasn’t the only star shining. Freddie Freeman and Will Smith each added RBIs, while starter Tyler Glasnow struck out nine over six solid innings.
The win snapped a mini-skid for the Dodgers and offered a reminder of just how dangerous their lineup can be when Ohtani is locked in.
Los Angeles remains atop the NL West and looks poised for a strong push as the All-Star break nears.
🧠 Ohtani’s Impact – More Than Just Stats
Since joining the Dodgers in a record-setting deal, Ohtani has been under immense scrutiny. With pitching on hold due to elbow recovery, all eyes have been on his bat — and Saturday’s performance was a timely reminder of why he’s still MLB’s most dynamic player.
He now sits at 18 home runs on the season, with 45 RBIs, a .310 average, and a rising slugging percentage. The power is clearly still there — and when it shows up, the Dodgers look unbeatable.
📅 What’s Next?
The Dodgers wrap up their series with Kansas City on Sunday before heading into a tough stretch that includes games against the Phillies and Braves. If Ohtani is heating up, this could be the start of a midseason surge for LA.
“We know what he’s capable of,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Tonight was special, but we’re not surprised.”