“Shohei is lighting up the highlights already.” That was the call from the broadcast booth when the two-way phenomenon launched a 446-foot homer in Game 4 of the NLCS in the first inning. Shohei Ohtani, the unicorn of baseball, continues to prove why he’s the cornerstone of the Dodgers’ championship aspirations, and on this October night, he etched another chapter into baseball folklore. With his two-way skills on full display, fans across social media erupted in awe-struck celebration.

Ohtani began by taking the mound in the first inning, issuing a leadoff walk before striking out the side—three consecutive Milwaukee Brewers batters went down swinging or looking at his electric arsenal.

Then, moments later, he did what only Shohei Ohtani can do. Leading off the bottom of the first, he turned on a slider from Jose Quintana and crushed a homer, giving the Dodgers an instant lead and becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to hit a leadoff home run in either the regular season or postseason.

MLB’s official account captured the electricity: “SHOHEI OHTANI! WHAT A START!” The post ignited social media as fans flooded the comments section, celebrating the moment that perfectly encapsulated why Ohtani commands a $700 million contract.

This season, he has reached multiple accolades. He also reached a milestone by hitting 50 homers and 50ks in a single season. Well, that’s not it. He also joined the 50-HR club in back-to-back seasons — a rarity.

Throughout the 2025 regular season, Ohtani demonstrated exceptional effectiveness on the mound, posting a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts against only nine walks in 47 innings. Manager Dave Roberts’ decision to start Ohtani in Game 4 proved masterful, as the right-hander carved through Milwaukee’s lineup with surgical precision. His fastball reached triple digits multiple times, and his devastating sweeper left hitters flailing at air.

Ohtani’s bat had been relatively quiet throughout the postseason—he entered Game 4 with just two hits in his first 14 plate appearances of the NLCS and hadn’t homered since September 30 in the NLDS. His postseason records created doubt in 9 games as he was hitting with an average of .198, with 2 homers, 6 RBIs, and an OPS of .641. The numbers contradict the league’s regular-season stats. But that leadoff blast shattered any lingering doubts.

Just prior to this Game, there were a lot of questions about his struggle, to which the skipper replied, ” He’s obviously a very, very talented player, and we’re counting on him.” “There’s still a lot of baseball left.” And he stands tall on Robert’s confidence by shining in both sides of the game.

The Dodgers dominated the opening three games of the series, taking a commanding 3-0 lead over the top-seeded Brewers. With the way Game 4 unfolded, the Dodgers were looking to punch their ticket to the World Series, needing just one more victory to advance. And they did that! Shohei Ohtani Shuts Down Doubters as Historic Two-Way Dominance vs Brewers Sends Fans Into Frenzy.

The fan loved what the $700m man delivered

When Ohtani inked the deal of $700M in 2023 raised eyebrows across baseball, but performances like this validate every dollar. And one fan highlighted exactly that. The comment read, “3 K’s and a homer in the 1st. He’s the $700M man for a reason.” The remark captures the essence of value in modern baseball.

Ohtani excels at two positions, and his contract, featuring significant deferrals, reflects the Dodgers’ commitment to excellence. Performances like his justify their investment.

Ohtani’s sweeper has become one of baseball’s most unhittable pitches. “HORIZONTAL HEAT WAVE: Ohtani’s sweeper tunnels with his 100 mph FB—opponents .085 SLG vs it! NLCS heater turning LA into a juggernaut. WS matchup vs Mariners? Your series dream?” The three strikeouts showcased his pitching dominance, with a fastball reaching 100.3 mph that caught Jackson Chourio off guard. He then hit a moonshot nearly halfway to the bleachers. And now with the Dodgers in the Finals again, the next in line to play against them is the Mariners or the Blue Jays? Well, the next 2 Games will decide.

The Hollywood Sluggers front office is known for spending big and signing hefty contracts, and for that they get many criticisms from fans of smaller-market teams. So, one Dodger faithful took a jab, “The ‘Dodgers are ruining baseball’ crowd must be so mad right now, haha.” The sentiment reflects ongoing debates about competitive balance and spending disparities. However, money alone doesn’t guarantee success. The Dodgers’ front office blends financial resources with talent evaluation, player development, and strategic decision-making.

Many have compared Ohtani’s career to Babe Ruth’s from time to time, especially when he does well in important games as a pitcher and a hitter.  “He is definitely a modern-day Ruth.” Babe Ruth has set the standard for two-way excellence, pitching more than 100 innings and hitting more than 200 times in both 1918 and 1919. Now after decades later, Shohei Ohtani did the same thing in 2021, becoming the first player to do it since Ruth. And with the way he is performing, he might break some more records!

Another comment on him stepping up on his moniker ‘unicorn’. “What are you all so surprised about? A unicorn just showed up.” It emphasizes the rarity of a true two-way star in MLB, suggesting that long-time observers expect this level of performance from someone of his caliber.

Now that the Boys in Blue have secured the World Series final spot and Shohei Ohtani has gained the momentum, can the World Series be the ShoTime?