Ohtani’s Historic Mound Performance
Even if Shohei Ohtani were strictly a pitcher this season, his current run would rank among the most impressive starts in Major League Baseball history. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar further bolstered his case for a third consecutive National League MVP award—and fifth overall—during Wednesday's 7-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ohtani delivered six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while recording six strikeouts. His season ERA currently sits at 0.74 through 10 appearances.
Dual-Threat Excellence
Ohtani's impact was not limited to the mound. He reached base in five of his six plate appearances, finishing 3-for-4 with two walks. This performance solidified his position at the top of the National League's on-base percentage leaderboard at .420. Remarkably, Ohtani recorded more hits (three) than the entire Diamondbacks team managed combined (two) throughout the contest.
As noted by analysts, it is a feat that bears repeating: the Dodgers currently possess the pitcher with the lowest ERA among those with multiple starts, as well as the hitter with the highest OBP in the league—and both accolades belong to the same athlete.
Rarefied Air in Baseball Records
According to MLB statistics, only two pitchers in the history of the sport have posted a lower ERA through their first 10 starts of a season: Jacob deGrom in 2021 (0.56) and Juan Marichal in 1966 (0.59). Even the celebrated start of Fernando Valenzuela’s career, which captivated fans during the "Fernandomania" era, saw his ERA at 1.24 by his 10th start.
Offensive Resurgence
Early in the season, some observers pointed to minor struggles in Ohtani's batting performance, a factor that led the Dodgers to periodically rest him from the lineup on days he was scheduled to pitch. However, those concerns have been thoroughly dismissed by his recent production. Since May 12, Ohtani has maintained a blistering .432 batting average, proving his capacity to dominate every facet of the game simultaneously.