Ohtani Achieves Historic First-Inning Feat with 3 Strikeouts and Leadoff Home Run

Los Angeles, CA – Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani accomplished a truly unprecedented feat in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on October 17, 2025. Ohtani, pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, struck out all three batters he faced in the top of the first inning before stepping to the plate in the bottom half and hitting a leadoff home run. This remarkable display of two-way dominance instantly captivated the baseball world.

The rare combination of a "strikeout the side" first inning followed by a leadoff home run by the same player is considered an almost impossible achievement in Major League Baseball. Sports commentator Jason Yeh reacted to the event on social media, stating, "Following a 3 K top of the first inning to go yard as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first. Literally will never happen again except when Shohei does it next." This sentiment underscores the extraordinary nature of Ohtani's performance.

According to MLB.com, Ohtani became the first pitcher in MLB history to slug a leadoff home run. This momentous hit also served to break a prolonged slump for the two-way phenom. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman expressed his awe, remarking, "Just mouth agape. Eyes wide, mouth agape. Just in awe, shock."

The historic first inning was just the beginning of a dominant performance by Ohtani. He went on to pitch six scoreless innings, striking out 10 batters, and added two more home runs later in the game, bringing his total to three for the night. This exceptional outing, which included a 100 mph fastball for a strikeout, led the Dodgers to a 5-1 victory and clinched their spot in the World Series.