Unleashing the Power: Shohei Ohtani's Home Run Legacy in the Dodgers' History
The Power of Ohtani: A Home Run Revolution
Since signing the largest contract in baseball history in December 2023, Shohei Ohtani has been a force to be reckoned with in the Dodgers' history. In just two years in Los Angeles, he has won two championships, claimed two MVP awards, and shattered two Dodgers single-season home run records. But here's where it gets controversial... Ohtani's impact extends beyond his impressive statistics. He has become a symbol of the new era in baseball, challenging the traditional boundaries of what a player can achieve.
Ohtani's 54 home runs in 2024 broke Shawn Green's previous franchise record by five, set 22 years prior. In 2025, he added one more to his total, becoming the only player in MLB history to hit exactly 55 home runs in a season. This achievement puts him on the path to another Dodgers record that is well within reach in 2026.
Dodgers' Home Run History: A Three-Year Perspective
Ohtani's impact is even more remarkable when viewed through the lens of three-year spans. While only four Dodgers have hit more home runs in a three-year span than Ohtani did in his first two seasons, he is already 31st in Dodgers history with his 109 home runs, and he's only played two years for them. Ohtani needs only 17 home runs in 2026 to set a Dodgers record for most homers in a three-year span. If he has another year anywhere close to his last two seasons, more rarefied air is in play.
The Dodgers' Home Run Giants: A Legacy of Power
Six Dodgers have achieved three or more consecutive seasons of 30 or more home runs: 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, who hit at least 40 home runs in five straight years from 1953-57, is the only Dodger with more than two seasons of 40 home runs. Ohtani's projections for this season are in the same area as these legends, with ZiPS, OOPSY, THE BAT, Marcel, and Steamer predicting 52, 50, 47, 44, and 44 home runs, respectively.
The Question: How Many Home Runs Will Ohtani Hit in 2026?
The question remains: how many home runs will Ohtani hit in 2026? His impact on the Dodgers' history is undeniable, and his legacy is only beginning to take shape. Will he continue to break records and challenge the boundaries of what a player can achieve? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: Shohei Ohtani is a force to be reckoned with, and his home run legacy in the Dodgers' history is just getting started.
