LOS ANGELES — Two days after his 32nd birthday, Shohei Ohtani crossed off yet another milestone.
The Los Angeles Dodgers star led off Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies with a line drive shot to center field for his 300th MLB home run. One night after recording No. 299, he needed to see just three pitches from Colorado starter Michael Lorenzen to become the first Japanese-born player to reach the mark.
SHOHEI OHTANI’S 300th MLB HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/GbNlyPbM07
— MLB (@MLB) July 8, 2026
Of Ohtani’s 300 homers, 129 have come with the Dodgers. He is now one of 18 current major leaguers with at least 300 home runs. Giancarlo Stanton is the active leader with 456. Ohtani is also one of three active Dodgers to amass 300 homers, joining Freddie Freeman (382) and Mookie Betts (302).
On Monday night, Manager Dave Roberts remarked on how quickly the milestone came for Ohtani, who has undergone two elbow surgeries since coming stateside.
“For him to get to 300, I still think given some of the time that he’s missed with the surgeries, it’s been pretty dang quick for me,” Roberts said.
Ohtani is in line to take his final start on the mound of the first half Friday, though there has been some concern over his status. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter last Friday, his most previous pitching start. Ohtani was dealing with sore right biceps and dubbed the issue as minor after the game.
“As he goes through the next couple days, if he doesn’t feel great, we’ll pivot,” Roberts said. “We’re prepared to pivot, but as we sit here, I don’t see that changing.”
Ohtani was selected via the fan vote as the National League starting designated hitter for MLB’s All-Star Game next Tuesday. It is unlikely he will participate in the Home Run Derby or pitch in the game, but Roberts — who will manage the NL team — said he expected Ohtani to take at least one at-bat in the Mid-Summer Classic.
“When you’re Shohei, he understands the responsibility he has,” Roberts said. “I do think that there’s a middle for what’s best for him, what potentially could be downside, but also what’s best for the game.”
