Shohei Ohtani's Impact on Dodgers History
Since signing the largest contract in baseball history in December 2023, Shohei Ohtani has made an extraordinary impact on the Los Angeles Dodgers. In just two years, he's achieved remarkable feats, including two championships, two MVP awards, and shattered two Dodgers single-season home run records. Ohtani's 54 home runs in 2024 broke Shawn Green's previous franchise record by five, and in 2025, he became the only player in MLB history to hit exactly 55 home runs in a season. These achievements set the stage for Ohtani to potentially break another Dodgers record in 2026.
Most Home Runs in a 3-Year Span
Ohtani's 109 home runs in his first two seasons already place him 31st in Dodgers history. He's on track to surpass Duke Snider's 125 home runs in a three-year span from 1954-56, which is the current record. Ohtani needs just 17 home runs in 2026 to tie Snider's record. If he continues his recent performance, he could break the record and join an elite group of Dodgers who have hit 30 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons.
Consecutive Seasons of 30 or More Home Runs
Only six Dodgers have achieved this feat: Gil Hodges (1950-54), Duke Snider (1953-57), Mike Piazza (1995-97), Eric Karros (1995-97), Raúl Mondesi (1997-99), and Gary Sheffield (1999-2001). Snider, with his 40+ home run seasons from 1953-57, stands out as the only Dodger with more than two such seasons. Ohtani's recent performance, including 46, 34, and 44 home runs in his final three years with the Angels, puts him on a similar trajectory.
Projected Home Runs for 2026
Projections for Ohtani's 2026 season are high, with estimates ranging from 44 to 52 home runs. This places him in the same range as his recent performance, suggesting he could continue his impressive home run-hitting streak. The question remains: how many home runs will Ohtani hit in 2026 and will he break the Dodgers' records?
