Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a hot start early in the 2026 Major League Baseball season. Sitting atop the National League West with a 9-3 record, the Dodgers are coming off a narrow 4-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Ohtani is fresh off the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where he appeared in four games for his home country of Japan. The 6-foot-4 lefty slugger performed sensationally for his home country, batting .462 with three home runs, seven RBI and walking five times. Batting .267 with only three home runs in 12 games, he is off to a pedestrian start during the early days of the MLB season, at least for his all-worldly standards.
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Ohtani has already made his imprint on the Dodgers in his two-year stint. He has effectively rewritten the Dodgers' franchise record book since he arrived in 2024. In Los Angeles-era metrics, his 55 home runs in 2025 edge past his previous franchise high of 54, set in 2024. That same 2024 season included 99 extra-base hits, which pushed beyond Babe Herman's long-standing all-time Dodgers mark of 94 set in 1930. The designated hitter doubled up on the franchise record for total bases as well, totaling 411 in 2024, followed by 380 in 2025.
There is another all-time Dodgers list that Ohtani is rising on. Not having to do with his record-breaking play on the diamond, this unexpected stat has to do with the number of bobblehead nights in the Los Angeles franchise history. That's right, it will be bobblehead night No. 7 for the Japan-native on Friday night when Los Angeles takes on Corey Seager and the Texas Rangers.
Ohtani is now tied with former third baseman Justin Turner with seven bobblehead nights, only trailing former starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (11) and franchise icon Fernando Venezuela (9). It appears there is no Dodgers all-time list that Ohtani can't rise quickly on; just beginning his third year in his 10-year contract with the team, he has matched what took Turner nine seasons, Kershaw 18 and the 46 years since Venezuela signed with the franchise.
The list of his previous Dodgers bobblehead nights include:
- Bobblehead 1: May 16, 2024, 7-2 loss vs. Cincinnati Reds
- Bobblehead 2: Aug. 28, 2024, 6-4 win vs. Baltimore Orioles
- Bobblehead 3: April 2, 2025, 6-5 win vs. Atlanta Braves
- Bobblehead 4: May 15, 2025, 19-2 win vs. Oakland Athletics
- Bobblehead 5: Aug. 27, 2025, 5-1 win vs. Reds
- Bobblehead 6: Sept. 10, 2025, 9-0 win vs. Colorado Rockies
Ohtani has reached base in each of his bobblehead night games. In the six games total, he batted 9-for-24 with four home runs and nine RBIs. In his only pitching appearance, he struck out nine while allowing two hits over five innings. His next bobblehead celebration nights will be on July 8 against the Rockies and August 22 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"Shohei Ohtani, in a short period, is climbing numerous all-time Dodger lists." Dodger Insider posted on X. "Including this one — bobbleheads. Friday marks No. 7 at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium."
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow is expected to start for the Dodgers' 10:10 p.m. ET game against the Rangers.
