Congratulations! Dodgers Superstar Shohei Ohtani Joins Exclusive List in Baseball History with Continued Power, Speed Combo

In a sport where individual accomplishments are often measured by home runs, batting averages, and strikeouts, Shohei Ohtani continues to transcend expectations and redefine the landscape of Major League Baseball. A two-way player who can both hit and pitch at an elite level, Ohtani’s arrival with the Los Angeles Dodgers has cemented his place among baseball’s legends. His combination of power and speed is putting him on an exclusive list, one that is hardly seen in the modern era, and even rarer throughout the history of the game.

Ohtani’s unique skill set, which includes the ability to both dominate on the mound and produce at the plate, places him in a category of his own. However, his recent feats—combining impressive power with remarkable speed—have launched him into even rarer air, placing him in an elite class of baseball players whose blend of athleticism and raw talent has left an indelible mark on the sport.

Since arriving in the United States in 2018, Shohei Ohtani has astounded fans and analysts alike with his otherworldly abilities. With the Los Angeles Angels, he quickly became the most exciting and talked-about player in baseball. As both a starting pitcher and a slugging designated hitter, Ohtani’s dual-threat status brought him comparisons to the greatest players in the history of the game, including Babe Ruth, the last player to truly excel in both pitching and hitting at the major league level. But Ohtani didn’t just settle for living in Ruth’s shadow; he carved out his own place in history.

In 2021, he broke out as the modern embodiment of Ruthian potential. Ohtani crushed 46 home runs, drove in 100 RBIs, and stole 26 bases while maintaining a 3.18 ERA as a pitcher. His combination of power, speed, and pitching brilliance led to an MVP award that year—an acknowledgment of the sheer magnitude of his achievements.

Now, in 2025, after a highly anticipated move to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani has continued to push the boundaries of what’s possible on a baseball field. His arrival in L.A. has breathed new life into the Dodgers’ already stacked lineup and has given the team even more reason to dream of World Series glory. While Ohtani’s ability to hit mammoth home runs is well-documented, it’s his ability to combine that power with speed that is increasingly setting him apart from his peers.

At its core, Ohtani’s ability to excel in both power and speed is what makes him so rare. Over the past several decades, the major leagues have seen players excel in one of these areas: some are home run hitters like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and more recently, players like Aaron Judge and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Others are base-stealing threats like Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines, and recent stars like Trea Turner and Ronald Acuña Jr. But the rarity lies in finding players who can consistently do both—hit for power and steal bases.

Shohei Ohtani has done this at a level few others have reached. In 2025, Ohtani continues to knock home runs out of the park with incredible consistency. As of mid-May, he has already belted 15 home runs, keeping pace with the league leaders in that category. His ability to hit for power is underscored by the fact that he’s managed to do so while maintaining an excellent batting average—typically hovering around .290 or higher. It’s the rare combination of power and average that makes him such a nightmare for opposing pitchers.

Yet, what truly separates Ohtani from other power hitters is his remarkable speed. Despite being 6’4″ and weighing 210 pounds, Ohtani runs the 60-yard dash in just under 6.5 seconds, placing him among the top players in terms of speed. His baserunning is a constant threat, with Ohtani regularly stealing 20 or more bases each season. In 2025, he’s already racked up 8 steals in just 40 games, showcasing his well-rounded game.

What makes Ohtani’s combination of power and speed even more remarkable is that he isn’t just a “fast” player who happens to hit for power; he’s a player whose natural athleticism allows him to be a consistent threat in multiple areas of the game. While many power hitters are restricted to the batter’s box and lack the legs to take full advantage of their speed, Ohtani seamlessly integrates his power with his running ability. His quickness around the bases allows him to stretch singles into doubles and take the extra base whenever possible, often providing a spark for the team’s offense.

Shohei Ohtani’s remarkable combination of power and speed places him on an exclusive list of players who have had similar impacts on the game. To be sure, there have been players in the history of baseball who have excelled in both areas. However, few have had the same combination of power, speed, and pitching acumen that Ohtani brings to the table.

Historically, few players have been able to match Ohtani’s feats. Babe Ruth, the most famous two-way player in baseball history, was both an elite pitcher and a slugger. However, Ruth’s speed wasn’t a notable part of his game. Ruth’s impact came mostly with his bat, and while he was a solid base runner, he was never known for his speed on the base paths.

In more modern times, players like Rickey Henderson and Barry Bonds have excelled in one area or the other. Henderson was a base-stealing maestro and one of the fastest players to ever grace the game, but his power numbers never came close to those of a slugger like Bonds, who was known for his incredible power but never stole many bases. Ohtani has bridged the gap between these two archetypes, giving baseball fans a rare glimpse at a player who can do both at an elite level.

Looking more closely at modern players, we see an even more exclusive list. Mike Trout, Ohtani’s former teammate, is one of the best all-around players in baseball history. He’s a regular threat to steal 30 or more bases while also hitting 40 home runs. However, even Trout’s speed and power combination doesn’t quite match the unique nature of Ohtani’s skills. What sets Ohtani apart, even from someone like Trout, is that he’s also a legitimate ace on the mound, able to pitch with as much prowess as he hits the ball.

Another example of Ohtani’s unique stature is the recent success of players like Ronald Acuña Jr., who has consistently demonstrated both power and speed, including his 40-40 potential seasons. Yet, while Acuña’s all-around game has made him one of the best players in baseball, he doesn’t have the pitching ability that Ohtani has. The combination of Ohtani’s pitching dominance, his raw power at the plate, and his speed on the bases simply doesn’t exist in the current game outside of him.

With his 2025 performance, Ohtani has joined a select few players who could claim to be as complete a baseball player as one can be. And while comparisons to the likes of Ruth, Mantle, and Bonds are common, Ohtani’s place in baseball history is becoming more secure as he continues to defy conventional thinking about what’s possible in a single player.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of the most successful and consistent teams in baseball for over a decade, and their pursuit of another World Series title in 2025 has been bolstered by the addition of Shohei Ohtani. With Ohtani in the fold, the Dodgers now have a player who can impact the game in multiple ways every night.

Ohtani’s presence in the lineup makes the Dodgers even more dangerous offensively, as his power brings balance to an already potent offense. His speed adds another layer of complexity to the team’s baserunning and offensive strategies. But it’s his dual ability to dominate on the mound that could truly elevate the Dodgers into championship contention. As Ohtani continues to perform at an elite level in both hitting and pitching, the Dodgers are poised to make a deep postseason run with a player who has the potential to carry them to the ultimate prize: a World Series title.

As the 2025 season continues, baseball fans will undoubtedly keep their eyes on Shohei Ohtani. His historic combination of power and speed continues to break new barriers, and his presence in the game is already reshaping how future generations of players view their potential on the diamond. For the Dodgers and their fanbase, Ohtani’s arrival couldn’t have come at a better time, as the team looks to secure another championship in the highly competitive National League.

Ohtani’s path will be one watched by fans and analysts alike for years to come. The list of players who have succeeded at the level he has in both power and speed is incredibly exclusive. And as he continues to perform at a level unmatched by almost anyone in recent memory, Shohei Ohtani’s place in baseball history is only becoming more firmly cemented.