Dodgers&#39; Shohei Ohtani receives bold 50-homer, 200-strikeout prediction

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani receives bold 50-homer, 200-strikeout prediction originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been frustrating fans all across Major League Baseball in recent years after winning back-to-back World Series titles.

One of the main catalysts for the recent frustration is two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. His dominance has taken MLB by storm. He's one of the best hitters and an elite pitcher. But, while he's had some truly remarkable seasons, he's yet to put it together in one year.

But, maybe not for long, MLB.com's Brent Maguire made a very bold prediction on Ohtani, as he predicted the Dodgers superstar to hit 50 home runs and strike out 200 batters during the 2026 MLB season.

Shohei Ohtani predicted to hit 50 HR, reach 200 Ks

"Ohtani clubs 50 homers, strikes out 200 on the mound," Maguire predicts. "It's worth reiterating: Ohtani's done the unthinkable on so many occasions that he could very well pull off something like this."

Ohtani hitting 50 home runs in a single season, while impressive, wouldn't be a surprise. In fact, it might be surprising if he doesn't reach that mark.

In both seasons with the Dodgers, Ohtani has hit 54 and 55 home runs. In his MLB career, Ohtani has 280 home runs. Barring a surprise, he should eclipse 300 this year, and reaching 50 homers, of 330 for his career, wouldn't be too big a surprise.

The strikeouts on the mound are the main issue for Ohtani. Since 2018, Ohtani has pitched in 100 games, which included 14 starts last season. He had a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts, good for 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

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If he can pitch a full season, as he did in 2022 when he made 28 starts, Ohtani reaching 200 strikeouts is doable. That 2022 season, across 28 starts and 166 innings, Ohtani had 219 strikeouts. As a hitter that season, Ohtani had 34 homers.

Ohtani has accomplished both of these feats, 50 homers and 200 strikeouts, in a single season before. But putting both together in one year would almost certainly mean that he'd win his fourth-straight MVP award.

While this might be a bold prediction from Maguire, it's not that unrealistic a goal to strive for in 2026 for Ohtani. If he can pitch a full season and not miss any time due to injury, reaching 50 homers and 200 strikeouts as a pitcher is well within his abilities.

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