Shohei Ohtani wastes no time, launches jaw-dropping leadoff homer into Minneapolis night

There are hot starts. Then there are Shohei Ohtani starts.

The Dodgers superstar needed exactly one swing Monday night to remind everyone why he's still one of the most feared hitters on the planet. Leading off Los Angeles' series opener against the Twins at Target Field, Ohtani crushed a towering home run that seemed to spend as much time in the air as some at-bats last.

The blast gave the Dodgers an immediate 1-0 lead and sent social media into a frenzy within seconds.

MLB's official account summed it up perfectly.

"Shohei Ohtani CRUSHES a leadoff home run 😯"

That may have actually undersold it.

Ohtani's latest moonshot had fans searching for landing coordinates

At this point, baseball fans have almost become numb to Ohtani doing ridiculous things.

Shohei Ohtani CRUSHES a leadoff home run 😯 pic.twitter.com/n3XDhksMRU

— MLB (@MLB) June 22, 2026

Almost.

Every now and then he still produces a moment that forces people to stop what they're doing and stare at the screen. Monday's leadoff homer was one of those moments. The ball jumped off Ohtani's bat and kept carrying into the Minneapolis night. By the time it finally came down, Dodgers fans were celebrating and Twins fans were left wondering if the game had actually started yet.

Not many players can change the mood of an entire stadium with one swing. Ohtani does it regularly.

Climbing another Dodgers leaderboard

The home run wasn't just another highlight. It also moved Ohtani closer to the top of another Dodgers record list.

Most leadoff home runs in Dodgers history:

1. Mookie Betts — 32

2. Davey Lopes — 28

3. Shohei Ohtani — 24

That's remarkable company considering Ohtani hasn't spent nearly as much time in Los Angeles as the two players above him.

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 22, 2026

Betts still owns a comfortable lead, but Ohtani's rapid climb up the list speaks to how dangerous he has become at the very top of the lineup. Every game starts with the possibility of an instant run on the scoreboard.

Monday was another example.

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Ohtani continues his June power surge

The timing shouldn't surprise anyone who's been paying attention lately. Ohtani entered the night with six home runs already in June and had been swinging one of the hottest bats in baseball throughout the month. He also came into the game hitting .324 on the road with seven home runs away from Dodger Stadium this season.

In other words, the Twins probably knew the danger was coming. Knowing it's coming and stopping it are two very different things.

Baseball's biggest star keeps delivering

The Dodgers entered Minnesota looking to snap a two-game skid after dropping consecutive games to Baltimore over the weekend. Ohtani apparently decided there was no reason to wait around.

One pitch. One swing. One baseball launched somewhere toward Minneapolis orbit. For everyone watching, it was a reminder that no matter how many incredible moments Ohtani produces, he somehow keeps finding new ways to make the unbelievable look routine.

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