Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ transcendent superstar, has redefined the boundaries of baseball on its grandest stage — the postseason. In Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Ohtani, serving as both starting pitcher and leadoff hitter, delivered a performance for the ages: six scoreless innings with ten strikeouts on the mound, and an astonishing three home runs at the plate. His historic display not only sealed the Dodgers’ ticket to the World Series but also became the first time in MLB postseason history that a pitcher hit a leadoff homer and multiple home runs in a single game. Ohtani’s “two-way immortality” transcends the notion of victory — it challenges the very foundations of modern baseball philosophy and player development.
Ohtani’s NLCS Game 4: The Birth of a Perfect Performance
To say Ohtani “played well” would be a gross understatement. His dominance on both sides of the game reached a level never before seen in MLB postseason history. On the mound, he allowed only two hits over six innings and struck out ten batters, completely silencing a potent Brewers lineup. That alone would have been a masterclass worthy of the win.
Yet, the true marvel began when Ohtani, moments after stepping off the mound, walked into the batter’s box and changed the game’s destiny. In the bottom of the first inning, as the leadoff hitter, he crushed a solo home run to right field — the first time a pitcher has ever led off a postseason game with a home run. That swing didn’t just open the scoring; it turned a century of baseball history on its head.
469 Feet of Mythmaking: The First Pitcher with a Multi-HR Postseason Game
Ohtani’s offensive onslaught didn’t stop there. In the fourth inning, he launched a 469-foot (143-meter) blast — the longest postseason home run ever measured since Statcast was introduced in 2015. With that swing, Ohtani became the first pitcher in MLB postseason history to record a multi-home-run game.
Even after his pitching duties were done, Ohtani remained in the lineup as the designated hitter — and in the seventh inning, he struck again, launching a third home run off a 98-mph fastball straight over center field. Three home runs, ten strikeouts, and a victory in the same postseason game — a statistical symphony that redefines what a baseball player can be. Ohtani didn’t just dominate a game; he declared himself a genre unto himself — not merely a pitcher, not merely a hitter, but the embodiment of baseball itself.
A Paradigm Shift: Two-Way Play Redefines Modern Baseball
Ohtani’s success is not merely a triumph of talent; it is a philosophical revolution. For over a century, baseball has enforced a binary mindset — a player must choose to be either a pitcher or a hitter. This specialization was thought to be the hallmark of modern efficiency. Ohtani obliterated that boundary.
The Ohtani Shock: Rethinking Player Development
His success forces the baseball world to question the very systems that shaped it. For decades, young prospects were told to pick one path — pitch or hit. Ohtani’s rise proves that the game’s future may belong to those who dare to do both. While few may match his generational gifts, his existence compels teams to rethink scouting, development, and talent cultivation from the ground up.
Tactical Flexibility and Strategic Superiority
For a manager, Ohtani is the ultimate strategic wildcard. A starting pitcher who also bats leadoff creates pressure that no opponent can prepare for. Rival pitchers must plan for him twice — as a mound opponent and as an offensive weapon. His dual role provides unparalleled roster flexibility and tactical edge, a priceless asset in data-driven modern baseball. The Dodgers’ four-game sweep of Milwaukee — after being winless against them in the regular season — underscores Ohtani’s transformative impact.
A Perfect Sweep and the Weight of the World Series
The Dodgers’ advance to the World Series is more than a triumph; it is the culmination of overwhelming power, focus, and tactical precision. Sweeping a team that dominated them in the regular season illustrates how postseason baseball rewards adaptability and mental strength. Ohtani, naturally, was named series MVP.
Now, the Dodgers await the American League champion — either the Seattle Mariners or the Toronto Blue Jays. Seattle currently holds momentum behind Cal Raleigh’s dramatic homer and Eugenio Suárez’s grand slam, but in October baseball, nothing is guaranteed. With Ohtani leading the charge, however, the Dodgers’ momentum feels unstoppable. The 2025 World Series promises to be a global stage for Ohtani to build yet another monument in baseball’s eternal hall of legends.
The Dawn of the Ohtani Era Continues
Shohei Ohtani is no longer just a superstar — he is a revolutionary figure expanding the very definition of what baseball can be. His Game 4 performance will stand as one of the greatest single-game feats in MLB history, redefining both the game’s rules and its imagination.
Perhaps you’ve told yourself before, “I can’t do both.” Ohtani’s story reminds us how misguided such limits can be. His fearless pursuit of dual excellence is more than an athletic feat — it’s a human inspiration.
The era of Ohtani has only just begun. And as he steps onto the World Series stage, the world waits — breath held — to witness what new miracle he will author next.