On Oct. 18 the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers and won the National League Championship Series (NLCS), simultaneously advancing to the World Series and making baseball history.
The momentous victory completed the four game sweep against the Brewers who placed first in the 2025 National League after a record breaking regular season.
The Brewers won the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs less than a week earlier in a series tie-breaking game, earning their spot in the NLCS and home-field advantage due to their impressive regular season run.
This advantage quickly ceased as the Dodgers won the first game of the NLCS and the lasting duration of the series was played in the golden state, where a young player would make his mark.
Born in Oshu, Japan, Shohei Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Angels in December of 2017 after an early career playing for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. Throughout both runs with the Ham Fighters and the Angels, Ohtani was able to fulfill the designated hitter position, allowing him to both pitch and hit, which is what ultimately led to much of his early breakout success.
It wasn’t until six years later when Ohtani would sign a ten-year contract with the Dodgers and make history in his first season with them, becoming the only player to accomplish a 50-50 season, with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.
After a regular season in which he broke the Dodger’s franchise record for home runs with an astounding 55, Ohtani is stepping back up to the plate.
In the fourth game of the NLCS, Ohtani played what is being called “the greatest game in baseball history” by outlets and critics everywhere, returning back to his impressive two-way player roots as a starting pitcher and the lead off hitter.
Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings, struck out 10 batters and hit three home runs, the final one winning the game and the title of NLCS champions for the Dodgers.
What Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called “the greatest postseason performance of all time” clinched the team’s spot in the World Series and named Ohtani himself the NLCS’ most valuable player (MVP); a title he is adding to his impressive arsenal among his 2024 National League MVP award.
Ohtani’s game marked a historical moment in his career, as he’s the first player in MLB history to hit three home runs and strike out at least one batter. He continued the Los Angeles Dodgers impressive run as a franchise, putting them one step closer to defending their 2024 title as World Series champions.
Similar to the 469-foot ball that went soaring over Dodgers Stadium on the night of Oct. 17, the Dodgers -led by Ohtani’s incredible performances – are setting high bars and continuing to jump over them.
With a 1-1 game tie between the Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays heading into the final week of the World Series, fans everywhere are anxiously awaiting the performance of one of California’s most prized teams.
