Shohei Ohtani Has 45 Home Runs with 25 Games Left — Can He Really Smash 55 This Season?
The 2025 Major League Baseball season has already provided fans with a treasure chest of unforgettable moments, but no storyline shines brighter than the extraordinary power surge of Shohei Ohtani. Sitting at 45 home runs with still 25 games left to play, the Japanese superstar has positioned himself on the doorstep of a milestone that once seemed almost unreachable. As analysts, fans, and players alike begin to speculate, the central question looms: Can Ohtani really smash 55 home runs this season?
The chase for 55 is more than just a numerical target. It represents dominance, consistency, resilience, and the kind of spectacle that defines baseball history. To fully grasp the magnitude of Ohtani’s pursuit, one must examine not only his current pace but also his broader significance in the game, the challenges ahead, and the potential historical weight of such an achievement.
The Magic of Ohtani’s Power Surge
At the heart of this season is the unrelenting power that Shohei Ohtani brings to the plate. His swing is a blend of precision and ferocity, allowing him to launch balls to every part of the ballpark. What separates Ohtani from traditional sluggers is that he is not simply feasting on fastballs. His home runs this year have come against a wide variety of pitches: sliders, changeups, cutters, and even breaking balls thrown in tough counts. This adaptability has made pitchers across the league fearful of giving him anything in the strike zone.
The number 45 home runs with more than three weeks of baseball still remaining is staggering. In modern baseball, where pitching has never been more specialized, hitting such totals requires remarkable skill. Managers employ bullpen specialists to neutralize power hitters, defenses rely on advanced analytics to position fielders, and pitchers study hours of video. Yet Ohtani continues to punish mistakes with ruthless consistency.
Why 55 Matters So Much
The target of 55 home runs carries immense symbolism. For one, it pushes Ohtani into rarefied air historically reserved for the most feared hitters in the sport. Crossing that line puts him alongside legends like Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Aaron Judge, all of whom cemented their legacies through landmark home run campaigns. For fans, watching Ohtani potentially achieve this number feels like a reawakening of baseball’s most cherished drama: the long-ball chase.
Moreover, reaching 55 would silence critics who have doubted whether Ohtani could continue to excel offensively while balancing the demands of being a pitcher. Even though injuries have altered the two-way narrative in recent seasons, his ability to dominate in at least one role with such authority proves that his star power transcends the debate. He is no longer just a two-way novelty—he is a generational force with the bat alone.
The Pace and the Probability
Projecting whether Shohei Ohtani can reach 55 requires a deeper dive into numbers. With 25 games remaining, he would need 10 home runs to hit the mark. That means averaging one home run every 2.5 games—an ambitious yet not impossible task for someone of his caliber.
Consider this: throughout stretches of this very season, Ohtani has gone on bursts where he has hit home runs in three or four consecutive games. His bat has caught fire multiple times, and when it does, he looks nearly unstoppable. Even if he experiences a mini-slump, all it would take is another torrid week to make up the difference. The key lies in his ability to stay locked in during the final month, when fatigue, pressure, and strategic pitching intensify.
Statistical models may suggest that the likelihood of hitting 10 more is slim, but history has shown that elite sluggers defy projections. Baseball is filled with late-season fireworks, and Ohtani has demonstrated a flair for the dramatic throughout his career.
Comparing to Historic Seasons
When looking at Ohtani’s chase, it becomes impossible not to draw comparisons to other historic seasons. Aaron Judge’s 62 home runs in 2022 remains the modern benchmark for American League sluggers. Judge maintained his power even under the immense spotlight, and Ohtani now finds himself facing a similar type of scrutiny.
In the National League, names like Giancarlo Stanton and Mark McGwire remind fans of the raw, overwhelming strength required to reach the mid-50s. What separates Ohtani, however, is that he brings a multidimensional game to the plate. While those hitters were primarily feared for their power, Ohtani combines contact, patience, and speed, making him a more complete offensive weapon.
The comparison to Babe Ruth is also unavoidable. Ruth not only redefined power hitting but also pitched earlier in his career. To see Ohtani, a century later, mirroring that duality while chasing a monumental home run total feels like baseball’s history coming full circle.
The Role of Pressure
Chasing 55 home runs is not simply about mechanics and numbers—it’s about mental fortitude. The closer Ohtani gets to the milestone, the more media attention and fanfare will surround each at-bat. Every swing will be scrutinized, every walk questioned, every deep fly tracked with anticipation.
This kind of spotlight can either elevate a player or suffocate him. For Ohtani, who has long thrived under immense pressure both in Japan and in MLB, the stage feels natural. His calm demeanor and disciplined approach allow him to block out distractions. Yet, even the most composed athletes feel the weight of history as the finish line nears.
The Impact on the Angels and the League
Beyond individual numbers, Ohtani’s pursuit of 55 also carries implications for his team and the league as a whole. The Los Angeles Angels, who have struggled in recent years to find consistent success, suddenly have one of the most compelling storylines in baseball driving fan engagement. Even if the Angels are not firmly in the playoff picture, every game Ohtani plays becomes must-see entertainment.
For Major League Baseball, the chase reinvigorates national attention. Home run races have historically galvanized fans, from the Ruth era to the McGwire-Sosa chase of 1998 to Judge’s recent run. Ohtani’s bid adds an international dimension, with fans across Japan and the world following every swing. His success symbolizes baseball’s global reach and its ability to unite cultures around moments of athletic brilliance.
The Challenges Ahead
While optimism fuels the narrative, there are undeniable obstacles. Fatigue is real during the grind of a long season, and pitchers will increasingly pitch around Ohtani to avoid becoming part of his highlight reel. He may face more intentional walks, more breaking balls outside the zone, and fewer mistakes over the plate. Overcoming this will require patience and the discipline to wait for hittable pitches rather than chasing glory swings.
Additionally, health always lingers as an unpredictable factor. Staying on the field for the final 25 games is crucial, as even a minor setback could derail the chase. Ohtani’s history of injuries makes durability a concern, though this season has thus far demonstrated his improved ability to manage workload and recovery.
What 55 Would Mean for Ohtani’s Legacy
If Shohei Ohtani does manage to hit 55 home runs, the achievement will become a cornerstone of his career. It would not only mark a personal best but also place him among the greatest single-season power hitters of all time. For a player already rewriting the rulebook of what an athlete can be, it would further cement his place in the pantheon of legends.
More than that, it would symbolize the culmination of years of global anticipation. From his days as a teenage prodigy in Japan, fans dreamed of what he could accomplish on the biggest stage. A 55-homer season would validate those expectations and demonstrate that the boldest hopes for Ohtani were not exaggerated—they were prophetic.
Can He Really Do It?
The answer lies in the delicate intersection of talent, opportunity, and fortune. Shohei Ohtani unquestionably has the talent to hit 55. He has already proven it with his incredible pace. The opportunity is there with 25 games left. Fortune, however, will dictate the final chapter: will he stay healthy, will pitchers challenge him, and will his swing stay in rhythm?
For now, fans can only watch in awe as each at-bat unfolds. Every towering drive, every near-miss, every long foul ball carries heightened meaning. Whether he ends the season with 52, 53, or indeed 55, Ohtani has already given baseball a storyline that transcends the numbers.
Conclusion: A Season for the Ages
Regardless of where the final tally lands, this season will be remembered as a defining chapter in the saga of Shohei Ohtani. The chase for 55 has electrified the sport, brought fans back to the edge of their seats, and reminded the world why baseball’s magic endures.
Should he reach the mark, it will be celebrated as one of the most significant individual achievements of the modern era. Even if he falls short, the journey itself—the suspense, the towering home runs, the nightly anticipation—will remain etched in memory.
In the end, what Ohtani has already accomplished this year defies convention and expectation. The question of whether he can smash 55 home runs will be answered soon enough, but one truth is undeniable: Shohei Ohtani is redefining greatness, one swing at a time.
