6 World Series Records Dodgers Slugger Could Break After Historic Game 3

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Shohei Ohtani (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Thanks to the Blue Jays’ decision to walk Shohei Ohtani in each of his final four plate appearances in Game 3, Ohtani is already in the World Series record books.

The Dodgers designated hitter reached base nine times on Monday, not only setting a postseason record, but also equaling the regular season record for most times on base in a single game. And since he will pitch tonight, Ohtani is almost assured of setting all kinds of one-off records as a pitcher who also hits in every game of the series.

But even setting his special two-way player status aside, Ohtani is having one of the greatest World Series offensive performances of all-time. In fact, he’s on pace to potentially set some other World Series hitting records.

There are at least two and as many as four games left in this World Series. If Ohtani has a rough game or two, several of these records will quickly fall out of reach. But as it stands, he has a chance to rank among the best in numerous World Series hitting records.

Slugging Percentage

Currently, Ohtani is averaging 1.4 bases per at-bat, which is the second-best rate in World Series history.

YearPlayerSLGABH2B3BHRTB1928Lou Gehrig1.727116104192025Shohei Ohtani1.417126203171928Babe Ruth1.3751610303222002Barry Bonds1.294178204221914Hank Gowdy1.273116311141977Reggie Jackson1.250209105251990Billy Hatcher1.250129410152013David Ortiz1.1881611202191939Charlie Keller1.188167113192018Steve Pearce1.167124103141976Johnny Bench1.133158112172012Pablo Sandoval1.125168103181932Lou Gehrig1.118179103191980Willie Aikens1.100208014221969Donn Clendenon1.071145103151952Johnny Mize1.067156103162009Chase Utley1.048216105222017George Springer1.0002911305291993Paul Molitor1.0002412222241923Babe Ruth1.000197113192024Freddie Freeman1.000206014202006Sean Casey1.000179202171990Chris Sabo1.000169102161953Billy Martin.9582412122231980Amos Otis.957231120322

Most Bases (Total Bases + Walks + HBP)

There have only been two players with 30 or more bases in a single World Series. For our purposes, we are looking at total bases plus walks plus hit-by-pitches. Barry Bonds’ 35 bases in 2002 stands at the top, thanks in part to seven intentional walks.

Ohtani currently is tied for 27th in this category, but he’s only played in three games so far. He could quickly climb the list with his usual production over the rest of this week.

YearPlayerGamesTBBBHBPBases2002Barry Bonds722130352017George Springer72950341977Reggie Jackson62531291926Babe Ruth718110291993Lenny Dykstra62170281993Paul Molitor62431281980Willie Aikens62260281960Mickey Mantle72080282013David Ortiz61980271968Lou Brock72430271923Babe Ruth61980272009Chase Utley62240262002Troy Glaus72240261967Carl Yastrzemski72141261952Duke Snider72411262019Juan Soto72050252019George Springer71870251980Amos Otis62230251979Willie Stargell72500251964Mickey Mantle71960251928Lou Gehrig41960251925Joe Harris72230252011Albert Pujols71662241971Roberto Clemente72220241956Yogi Berra72040241953Billy Martin62310242025Shohei Ohtani31760231997Moises Alou72030231991Terry Pendleton72030231972Gene Tenace72120231957Hank Aaron72210231955Duke Snider72120231945Hank Greenberg71661231928Babe Ruth4221023

Most Home Runs

When it comes to home runs, Ohtani’s three homers so far puts him in a massive 40-player tie for the 14th-most in World Series history. But if he hits just one more, he will climb into a tie for fourth-most in a World Series. And with two more, he will tie the all-time record held by George Springer, Chase Utley and Reggie Jackson.

YearPlayerHome Runs2017George Springer52009Chase Utley51977Reggie Jackson51958Hank Bauer41952Duke Snider41926Babe Ruth42002Barry Bonds41993Lenny Dykstra41955Duke Snider41980Willie Aikens41972Gene Tenace42024Freddie Freeman41928Lou Gehrig42025Shohei Ohtani3

Most Intentional Walks

Considering how Game 3 went, this may be the record Ohtani is most likely to break.

YearPlayerIBB2002Barry Bonds72011Albert Pujols52013David Ortiz42025Shohei Ohtani41991Kirby Puckett4

Highest On-Base Percentage (Minimum 15 PAs)

Ohtani is currently getting on base in two out of every three plate appearances. Simply maintaining that over the course of the rest of the World Series would be exceptional. But if the Blue Jays adopt the approach of intentionally walking him in any key situation, he has a chance to climb even higher. However, Billy Hatcher’s absurd .800 OBP in 1990 for the Reds seems a bit out of reach. Even if Ohtani were to reach base 10 out of 10 times over the rest of the World Series, he would only finish with a .786 OBP.

YearPlayerOBP1990Billy Hatcher.8002013David Ortiz.7601928Lou Gehrig.7062002Barry Bonds.7001914Hank Gowdy.6881941Joe Gordon.6672025Shohei Ohtani.6671928Babe Ruth.6471947Johnny Lindell.6251990Chris Sabo.6111954Hank Thompson.6111944George McQuinn.6091932Lou Gehrig.6001929Mickey Cochrane.5911992Deion Sanders.5882008Jayson Werth.5831993Paul Molitor.5711979Phil Garner.5711910Jimmy Sheckard.5711929Hack Wilson.5712016Brandon Guyer.5632004Mark Bellhorn.5631969Al Weis.5631923Casey Stengel.5632020Corey Seager.556

Highest Batting Average (Minimum 15 PAs)

The Reds’ Billy Hatcher once again has the top spot seemingly locked down here. Ohtani currently is tied for 13th in batting average for a single World Series.

YearPlayerAVGHAB1990Billy Hatcher.7509122013David Ortiz.68811161928Babe Ruth.62510161990Chris Sabo.5639161928Lou Gehrig.5456111914Hank Gowdy.5456111992Deion Sanders.5338151976Johnny Bench.5338151932Lou Gehrig.5299172006Sean Casey.5299171982Dane Iorg.5299171976Thurman Munson.5299171993Paul Molitor.50012241979Phil Garner.50012241931Pepper Martin.50012241953Billy Martin.50012241947Johnny Lindell.5009181917Dave Robertson.50011221941Joe Gordon.5007142025Shohei Ohtani.5006121954Vic Wertz.5008161927Mark Koenig.5009182012Pablo Sandoval.5008161998Tony Gwynn.500816

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