Advertisement

Dodgers undefeated start leaves MLB legends in the dust after Shohei Ohtani walk-off

Emma Lingan
Emma Lingan

Dodgers Way

Apr 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) is greeted at home after hitting a walk off solo home run against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

When Shohei Ohtani stepped up to the plate on his bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium with a tie game in the bottom of the ninth, it wasn't a matter of if he would hit a walk-off homer; it was a matter of where he would hit it.

Sure enough, the reigning National League MVP sent a first-pitch changeup from Atlanta Braves right-hander Raisel Iglesias 399 feet over the center field wall for a walk-off home run to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-5 comeback victory and extend their season-opening win streak to 8-0.

The homer was Ohtani's third in what its still a very young season. After Wednesday's contest, he is hitting .333/.459/.667 with two stolen bases through eight games — all while he continues to rehab his way back to the pitcher's mound in his quest to join the Dodgers' starting rotation.

Wednesday's heroics were just another example of the greatness that we have all coome to expect from Ohtani. Max Muncy summed it up perfectly, via Sonja Chen of MLB.com: "I wasn't shocked at all. But it's still shocking what he does."

Dodgers' undefeated start leaves MLB legends in the dust after Shohei Ohtani walk-off

Thanks in large part to Ohtani, the Dodgers now stand alone as the first defending World Series champions in history to begin the season 8-0. In doing so, they have officially dethroned the 1933 New York Yankees — a team that had all-time greats Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth on its roster — for the longest winning streak to begin a season for a reigning champion.

That's not to say that the Dodgers' road to 8-0 has been an easy one. They have had to come from behind for six of their eight wins, and they have rarely been at full strength. The Dodgers have won six of their first eight games without Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman or both in their lineup. Freeman missed the entire three-game series against the Braves after aggravating an ankle injury by slipping in the shower.

Still, the Dodgers have managed to pace an NL West division that has been dominant in its own right, featuring a 7-0 start for the San Diego Padres and a 5-1 start for the San Francisco Giants. According to ESPN Research, the undefeated starts by the Dodgers and Padres mark only the fifth season in major league history with multiple teams starting 7-0 or better, and the first time since 2003.

The Dodgers' journey to 9-0 begins Friday when they head east to take on the 4-1 Philadelphia Phillies.

More Dodgers content from Dodgers Way

Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan is an MLB Staff Writer for FanSided primarily covering the Pittsburgh Pirates. She has been covering baseball for more than a decade dating back to her time as a student at Wake Forest University, and she has won two gold medals as a member of the U.S. National Team delegation (2016 Pan-American Championships & 2017 World Baseball Classic). A native of Washington, D.C. and current resident of Nashville, Tenn., she is also entering her seventh season as a credentialed NHL media member and currently covers the NHL’s Nashville Predators for The Hockey News. When she's not watching hockey, baseball or football, she enjoys podcasting, reading, going to the gym, consuming large amounts of coffee and taking long walks with her dog, Minkah. You can follow her @Emma_lingan on Twitter and Instagram.