14 Times Shohei Ohtani Made Baseball Look Effortless
This is a roundup of 14 jaw-dropping instances where Ohtani's two-way brilliance felt like magic.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Shohei Ohtani continues to redefine what a baseball player can be, blending elite pitching with jaw-dropping power at the plate. These moments show how he makes the impossible look like part of his routine. Every moment on this list is proof that baseball has never seen anyone quite like him.
1. Pitching Debut with the Dodgers
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Shohei made his long-awaited Dodgers debut look like a casual afternoon. He fired a 100.2 mph fastball like it was nothing, leaving everyone stunned. For a guy returning from injury, he made it look almost too easy.
2. First-Ever 50 HR and 50 SB Season
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
No one in MLB history had pulled this off — until Ohtani did. He smashed 50 homers and swiped 50 bags like it was part of his weekly routine. The combo of speed and power looked unreal in one man.
3. Fastest to the 40–40 Club
Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
He reached 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases faster than anyone. The speed, the timing, the balance — it all seemed effortless. Like he was sprinting through baseball history at his own pace.
4. 6-for-6 Game That Looked Scripted
Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
In one game, he went 6-for-6 with three home runs and two steals. It felt like a video game on cheat mode. Fans could barely believe what they were watching.
5. Homer After Tommy John Surgery
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
After elbow surgery, most players need time to get back to form. Not Ohtani; he came back blasting homers like nothing happened. The power was still there, and he made sure everyone saw it.
6. Triple-Digit Fastball Comeback
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
His first fastball of the year hit 100 mph on the radar gun. The crowd barely had time to blink. For a comeback moment, it was pure fire.
7. That Homer Sound You Never Forget
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
One of his home runs sounded different; it echoed through the stadium like thunder. You could feel it through the screen. That swing was all power and confidence.
8. Opening Day Starter and Leadoff Hitter
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
He pitched and batted leadoff in the same Opening Day game. No one else had ever done it before. Ohtani just made it seem like business as usual.
9. Tosses a Gem and Hits a Grand Slam
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
He threw seven shutout innings and then launched a grand slam. That kind of two-way dominance barely feels real, but Ohtani pulled it off like he had done it a hundred times.
10. 30 Homers and 10 Wins in One Season
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
He hit 30 home runs and won 10 games as a pitcher, both in the same year. No one else has ever done that. He made it look like a regular stat line.
11. Dual Role All-Star Selection
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Ohtani was picked as both a pitcher and a hitter for the All-Star Game. That had never happened before. Of course, he handled it like it was nothing new.
12. Two Homers and 10+ Strikeouts
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
In one game, he hit two home runs and struck out over 10 batters. It was dominance on both sides of the ball. He made every part of the game look effortless.
13. 14-Pitch Bullpen Full of Fire
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
In a bullpen session, he threw 14 pitches — each more impressive than the last. Even in practice, his mechanics were smooth and explosive. Scouts could not stop watching.
14. Always Finding a New Way to Amaze
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Just when fans think he has peaked, he does something even more incredible. That is the Ohtani effect. He keeps pushing the limits of what looks humanly possible.