Shohei Ohtani Blasts 450-Foot Home Run in Dodgers' Win Over Nationals

Shohei Ohtani hit a towering 450-foot home run, the hardest-hit of his career at 118.7 mph, to help lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-1 victory over the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Tuesday night. Ohtani's solo shot in the ninth inning off Nationals reliever Matt Barnes extended the Dodgers' lead and showcased his incredible power at the plate.

The home run was the hardest-hit by a Dodgers player in the Statcast era, which began in 2015. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts marveled at Ohtani's blast, calling it a "top-spin liner that reached the second deck." Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in the offseason, is batting a major league-best.364 with six home runs so far this season.

Ohtani's home run was the decisive blow, but the Dodgers also got key contributions earlier in the game. Pinch-hitter James Outman broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI double in the eighth inning, and Miguel Rojas added a run-scoring single to put Los Angeles ahead. The Dodgers had tied the game in the sixth on an RBI single by Kiké Hernández.

Why this matters: Ohtani's incredible start to the 2024 season, even while not pitching as he recovers from elbow surgery, underscores his unique talent and the impact he can have on the Dodgers' championship aspirations. His record-breaking contract and early dominance at the plate have made him the biggest story in baseball this year.

Dodgers starter James Paxton had a solid outing, pitching 4 2/3 innings and allowing one run on five hits. The Dodgers' bullpen then held the Nationals scoreless the rest of the way, with relievers Michael Grove, Alex Vesia, Daniel Hudson, and Evan Phillips combining for 4 1/3 shutout innings. Nationals starter Patrick Corbin was sharp, working 5 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and three walks and striking out three.

With the victory, the Dodgers improved their record to 16-9

Key Takeaways

• Shohei Ohtani hit a 450-ft home run at 118.7 mph, the hardest of his career.
• Ohtani's home run extended the Dodgers' lead in a 4-1 win over the Nationals.
• Ohtani is batting .364 with 6 home runs this season after signing a $700M contract.
• The Dodgers' bullpen pitched 4.1 scoreless innings to secure the victory.
• The win improved the Dodgers' record to 16-9 on the season.