Shohei Ohtani Reaches 300 Career Home Runs With 1st-Inning Blast as Dodgers Lose 4-3

Q: As the fifth-fastest player to 300 homers, is Ohtani on a realistic path to join the exclusive 500 home run club?

Yes. Ohtani is on a realistic path to 500 home runs, and the math is favorable if he stays reasonably healthy. Reaching 300 in 1,102 games as the fifth-fastest player in MLB history is strong evidence that his power pace is elite. He did not just reach the milestone; he added another homer later that same game, giving him 301 career home runs and 19 in 84 games in 2026. That puts him on roughly a high-30s full-season pace even while carrying a major pitching workload. The key number now is 199 more homers to get to 500. If Ohtani finishes 2026 around 335 to 340 career homers, he would need roughly 160 to 165 more over the seven seasons remaining on his contract through 2033. That works out to about 23 to 24 homers per year, a very manageable rate for a hitter who has already produced multiple 40-plus and 50-plus homer seasons. The case for caution is obvious: Ohtani is not a conventional slugger. His two-way role adds wear and raises injury risk, which is the biggest threat to the chase. A pitcher-hitter schedule can also cost him some plate appearances compared with a full-time designated hitter. Still, his current offensive line, elite plate discipline, and sustained power profile suggest the bat should age well. If health does not significantly interrupt his next several seasons, 500 is not just possible; it is the expected trajectory.

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 8

Shohei Ohtani opened the game with his 300th career home run, driving Michael Lorenzen’s third pitch—a 93-mph sinker—over center field at Dodger Stadium.
The leadoff solo shot gave Los Angeles a 1-0 first-inning lead, but it was Ohtani’s only hit as the Dodgers fell 4-3 to the Rockies.
The milestone leaves Ohtani at 129 home runs in three seasons with the Dodgers, after hitting 171 with the Angels.
Among Dodgers franchise sluggers, Ohtani still trails the club’s all-time leaders, with Duke Snider atop the list at 389 and Eric Karros at 270.