Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani hit his 29th leadoff home run as a Dodger in Wednesday’s loss to the Chicago Cubs, claiming sole position of second place in the Dodgers’ all-time leadoff home run rankings.
Ohtani brought himself into a tie for second place with four-time All-Star and 1981 World Series winner Davy Lopes with his leadoff blast against the Seattle Mariners on July 28, and it didn’t take him long to continue climbing the rankings.
After a patient at-bat, Ohtani pulled the seventh pitch he saw down the line and over the right field fence in Wrigley Field to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Ohtani also had a two-run shot later in the game, though the Dodgers narrowly lost.
MLB’s only two-way player has 11 leadoff blasts this season, bringing him just one homer shy of his total from 2025. The only player ahead of him in the Dodgers’ all-time ranking is Mookie Betts, who he is sure to surpass at some point as long as the shortstop continues batting behind him.
Ohtani, naturally, has more home runs in the first inning than any other inning, seeing as how he’s guaranteed to step up to the plate in the first frame.
Where Does Shohei Ohtani Stand in the All-Time Leadoff Home Runs Leaderboard?
Ohtani’s leadoff home run Wednesday was the 30th of his MLB career, which also ties him for 23rd on the all-time leaderboard.
Rickey Henderson is the all-time leader with 81 leadoff home runs during his career, with the next closest player bring George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays with 65 homers to lead off a ballgame.
Betts is the second-highest active player on the list, having hit 52 leadoff homers in his career so far—20 of which came during his time with the Boston Red Sox.
Ohtani has at least 10 in each of the past two seasons, during which he has almost exclusively batted at the top of the order, and if he continues at that pace he could very well reach the previously untouchable record.
His next opportunity to do so comes against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, as the Dodgers look to end a season-high six-game losing streak. The first game of the series begins at 6:40 p.m. PT.
