The Los Angeles Dodgers are entering the 2025 MLB season as the reigning World Series champions, and at the heart of their success is Shohei Ohtani, whose unprecedented 2024 campaign has redefined what’s possible in baseball. Ohtani’s historic achievement—becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season—propelled the Dodgers to their eighth championship, and now, as the 2025 playoffs loom on the horizon, his two-way brilliance could be the key to a repeat. Let’s explore how Ohtani’s 2024 milestone has set the stage for another deep postseason run, the challenges the Dodgers face, and why they remain the team to beat.
The 2024 Milestone: A Season for the Ages
Ohtani’s 2024 season was nothing short of extraordinary. Despite not pitching due to recovery from a 2023 UCL repair, he focused solely on his offensive game and delivered a performance that shattered records. He finished the regular season with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, founding the 50-50 club and becoming just the third player ever to rank in the top two in both categories in a single season, joining legends Honus Wagner (1908) and Ty Cobb (1909). His final stat line—.310/.390/.646, 130 RBI, 134 runs, and a 1.036 OPS—earned him a unanimous NL MVP as the first primary designated hitter to win the award, a testament to his dominance.
The defining moment came on September 19 against the Marlins, when Ohtani went 6-for-6 with three homers, two steals, and 10 RBI, clinching a playoff berth for the Dodgers in his first postseason appearance. He played a career-high 159 games, starting all 16 playoff games, and his three-run homer in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Padres tied the game, sparking a run that ended with a World Series victory over the Yankees in five games. Ohtani’s durability and clutch play proved he could handle the postseason spotlight, erasing any doubts about his ability to perform on baseball’s biggest stage.
Ohtani’s Two-Way Return: A Game-Changer for 2025
What makes Ohtani’s 2024 season even more remarkable is that it came without his pitching contributions. Now, in 2025, he’s set to return to the mound, potentially as early as May, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Ohtani, who underwent left shoulder surgery in November 2024 to repair a labrum tear sustained during the World Series, is on track for a full recovery by spring training. His rehab has progressed smoothly—he resumed bullpen sessions on March 29, and while he paused his pitching progression to focus on hitting for the season’s start, he’s expected to face live hitters soon, a key step toward rejoining the rotation.
As a pitcher, Ohtani’s career stats are elite: a 3.01 ERA over 481.2 innings with 608 strikeouts in 86 starts. His return adds a dimension the Dodgers lacked in 2024, when their rotation was plagued by injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and others. With Ohtani joining a staff that now includes Yamamoto, Glasnow, new signee Blake Snell, and Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers’ rotation could be the deepest in baseball. The team plans to use a six-man rotation to manage workloads, a strategy that should keep their pitchers fresh for October. Ohtani’s ability to pitch every sixth day while continuing to hit—potentially replicating his 2021 form (3.18 ERA, 46 HRs)—makes him a unique weapon, capable of impacting games on both sides of the ball.
The Dodgers’ 2025 Outlook: Strengths and Challenges
The Dodgers’ lineup remains a juggernaut, even with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman dealing with early-season injuries. Ohtani, slotted in the No. 2 spot, benefits from a supporting cast that includes Betts (.863 OPS in 2024 despite missing time), Freeman (.854 OPS), and Teoscar Hernández (33 HRs, 99 RBI), who re-signed with the team. The offense, which averaged 5.94 runs per postseason game in 2024, is poised to dominate again, especially with Ohtani’s bat leading the way. His Tokyo Series performance on March 18—going 2-for-5 with a single and a double in a 4-1 win over the Cubs—shows he’s already in midseason form.
Pitching depth is another strength. Beyond Ohtani, Yamamoto (3.00 ERA in 2024) and Glasnow (134 innings, a career high) provide a solid foundation, while Snell and Sasaki add upside. The bullpen, bolstered by the signings of Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, should be among the league’s best, addressing last year’s ninth-inning inconsistencies after losing Blake Treinen and Daniel Hudson to free agency.
However, challenges remain. The Dodgers’ rotation still carries injury risks—Glasnow has never pitched more than 134 innings in a season, Yamamoto missed three months in 2024 with a strained rotator cuff, and Ohtani’s return to pitching after two major elbow surgeries is uncharted territory. The National League is also more competitive this year, with the Phillies (+1000 World Series odds), Mets (+1200), and Braves (+1300) all posing threats, according to BetMGM. The Dodgers faced elimination twice in the 2024 NLDS, a reminder that even a star-studded roster isn’t immune to upsets in the expanded playoff format, where the No. 1 seed must navigate a grueling path without a first-round bye.
Setting the Stage for a Repeat
Ohtani’s 2024 season didn’t just rewrite the record books—it changed the Dodgers’ identity. His 50-50 milestone proved he could carry a team offensively, and his postseason performance (including a game-tying homer in the NLDS) showed he thrives under pressure. Now, with his pitching return, the Dodgers have a trump card no other team can match. A healthy Ohtani starting Game 1 of the NLDS, followed by Yamamoto and Glasnow, could make the Dodgers’ rotation nearly unhittable, while his bat ensures their offense remains a nightmare for opposing pitchers.
The Dodgers’ luxury tax payroll, projected at $380 million, gives them a financial edge, but it’s Ohtani’s presence that makes them the team to beat. His global appeal—evident in the rapturous applause at the Tokyo Dome—has boosted MLB’s international viewership, and a repeat championship would cement his legacy as one of the greatest ever, surpassing even Babe Ruth in the two-way conversation. Fans on social media platforms like X are already debating whether Ohtani’s 2024 season makes him the GOAT, a discussion that will only intensify if he leads the Dodgers to back-to-back titles.
Conclusion
Shohei Ohtani’s 50-50 milestone in 2024 was a historic feat that powered the Dodgers to a World Series title, and his return to two-way play in 2025 positions them as favorites to repeat. With a loaded lineup, a deep rotation, and Ohtani’s unparalleled versatility, Los Angeles has the tools to navigate the NL’s gauntlet and return to the Fall Classic. The challenges—rotation health, a tougher NL field, and the unpredictability of the playoffs—are real, but Ohtani’s greatness has a way of defying the odds. As the 2025 season unfolds, all eyes will be on the Dodgers’ superstar, who might just be on the verge of another historic run—this time with a chance to etch his name even deeper into baseball lore.
