Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers has finally broken out of his slump, launching his seventh home run of the season in a game against the San Francisco Giants on May 13.

Playing as the leadoff designated hitter at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani ended a 12-game homerless streak with a powerful blast in the third inning. The solo shot came off a sinker from Giants starter Adrian Houser, traveling at an exit velocity of 105.9 mph (approximately 170.4 km/h) and covering 398 feet (about 121.3 meters). The home run gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

Earlier in the game, Ohtani also made an impact in the first inning. He singled on a changeup and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, putting the Dodgers ahead 1-0. The hit marked his first in three games since the game against the Atlanta Braves on May 11.

Ohtani, who has been handling a starting rotation role since the start of the season, had struggled offensively due to fatigue from his two-way duties. His batting average dipped to .129 in May, and he recorded a .233 average with 6 home runs and a .767 OPS in his first 41 games with the Dodgers—far below his previous performances: .354 with 11 homers and a 1.081 OPS in 2024, and .307 with 13 homers and a 1.056 OPS in 2025.

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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts even hinted at an unusual rest for Ohtani, saying the team is considering not putting him in the lineup for the games on May 14-15 to help him recover from the slump.

The home run on May 13 may signal a turning point for Ohtani, who has been under scrutiny for his lackluster start to the season.