Shohei Ohtani Ties MLB Feat Last Achieved by Alex Rodriguez Following 50th Home Run of 2025 Season

Shohei Ohtani clubbed his 50th home run of the 2025 season on Tuesday in the bottom of the 8th inning off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher David Robertson.

Shohei Ohtani Ties MLB Feat Last Achieved by Alex Rodriguez Following 50th Home Run of 2025 Season

Shohei Ohtani and Alex Rodriguez (Image via Imago)

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Shohei Ohtani has accomplished another milestone in MLB. On Tuesday, he tied a feat last achieved by Alex Rodriguez following his 50th home run of the 2025 season.

The Japanese international was on the pitching duty on Tuesday. He would throw five no-hit innings and was dominating the opposition from the mound. After a pitch count of 68, he was taken out of the game by Dave Roberts.

After he was taken off, the offense of the Phillies exploded. They scored 5 runs in the 6th inning and took a 5-4 lead. With the Dodgers 6-4 down in the 8th inning, Ohtani stepped up to the plate.

The reigning National League MVP smashed a solo home run into deep right center field off the pitch of David Robertson to reduce the deficit to 1 run. This was his 50th home run of the season.

This saw him do something in MLB that was last done by Alex Rodriguez. He became the first player since Rodriguez to have 2 successive seasons with 50 or more home runs. Last year Ohtani slammed 54 home runs in the regular season.

A-Rod was the last person to do this. The former New York Yankees third baseman did this while he was playing for the Texas Rangers during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. The other players to do this are Sammy Sosa (1998-2001), Ken Griffey Jr. (1997-98), Mark McGwire (1996-1999), and Babe Ruth twice (1927-28) and (1920-21).

Unfortunately for Ohtani, his team ended up losing the game. After Alex Call leveled the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the 8th inning on a sacrifice fly, Rafael Marchan went yard again for the Phillies in the top of the 9th inning. His 2nd home run of the day, a 3-run shot off Blake Treinen, propelled his side to a 9-6 win and a series victory over the Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run makes it 3rd MLB season to have 3 or more players to hit more than 50 homers

Shohei Ohtani’s dominance with the bat continued on Tuesday. The 2-way star slammed his 50th home run of the 2025 season in his team’s 9-6 loss. His home run in this game made 2025 just the third MLB season to have 3 or more players hit more than 50 home runs.

Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani (Image via Imago)

Seattle Mariners star Cal Raleigh became the first one to cross the 50-home run mark this year. The catcher also set the record for the most home runs by a primary catcher this year.

Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber was the 2nd one to hit 50 bombs this year. His 50th home run came in his team’s 9-3 win over the New York Mets last week. Ohtani is now the third one to smash 50 homers this season. 

Four players hit more than 50 dingers in both of the other years. Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Greg Vaughn, and Ken Griffey Jr. in 1998, and Barry Bonds, Sosa, Luis Gonzalez, and A-Rod in 2001.

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge could make it the third season to have 4 hitters smash 50 or more bombs. The reigning AL MVP has 48 to his name and needs 2 more.

Shohei Ohtani finds another 50-50 club

With his 50th home run on Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani founded another 50-50 club. Last year, he became the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases. While this year Ohtani has stolen only 19 bases, he has found another 50-50 club.

Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani (Image via Imago)

He is now the first player to have 50 home runs in a season and 50 strikeouts. The 31-year-old has returned to pitching this year and has made 13 starts.

In this 13 starts, he has managed to pick up 54 strikeouts. So he is now part of another 50-50 club. The only player other player to hit 50 home runs and have any strikeout is Babe Ruth with 3.

The Dodgers star is the frontrunner for the NL MVP award once again. If he wins it, it will be his 4th MVP award and his 3rd successive. He would thus break a tie with several MLB greats and become just the 2nd player after Barry Bonds, to win this honor 4 times in his career. Bonds claimed this feat 7 times in his career (4 successive from 2001-2004).

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