Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani On Cusp of Unbelievable MLB History

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is on the verge of breaking Ichiro Suzuki's record for the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player in MLB history.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:00am

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A cubist-style painting depicting Shohei Ohtani's batting and pitching motions in a fractured, geometric style, capturing the dynamic energy of the Dodgers' two-way star.Shohei Ohtani's historic start to the 2026 season has him on the cusp of breaking an MLB record held by a fellow Japanese-born superstar.Ontario Today

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is on the cusp of surpassing Ichiro Suzuki's record of 43 consecutive games reaching base, the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player in MLB history. Ohtani is also in the midst of a historic start to the 2026 season, with the longest active streak of consecutive innings pitched without allowing an earned run and being the first Dodgers pitcher to start a season with consecutive outings of six-plus innings with no earned runs since 2016.

Why it matters

Ohtani's pursuit of Ichiro's record and his dominant pitching and hitting performances to start the season are a testament to his unparalleled talent as a two-way player. As the Dodgers continue their quest for a third straight World Series title, Ohtani's historic achievements will be a major storyline and source of excitement for the team and its fans.

The details

Ohtani enters Friday's series opener against the Texas Rangers matching Suzuki's total of 43 consecutive games reaching base, with the chance to break the record. In addition to his on-base streak, Ohtani also has the longest active streak of consecutive innings pitched without allowing an earned run (28.2 innings pitched), and is the first Dodgers pitcher to start a season with consecutive outings of six-plus innings with no earned runs since Kenta Maeda in 2016. Ohtani is hitting .267 with three home runs and eight RBIs, and has not allowed a run across 12 innings pitched so far in 2026.

  • Ohtani enters Friday's series opener against the Texas Rangers matching Ichiro Suzuki's record of 43 consecutive games reaching base.
  • Suzuki broke his own 2004 record of 40 in 2009 where he reached base in 43 consecutive games.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

A two-way superstar for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani is on the cusp of breaking Ichiro Suzuki's record for the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player in MLB history.

Ichiro Suzuki

A former MLB player who held the record for the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player at 43 games, which Ohtani is now matching.

Kenta Maeda

A former Dodgers pitcher who previously held the record for the most consecutive outings of six-plus innings with no earned runs to start a season, which Ohtani has now surpassed.

Fernando Valenzuela

The only Dodgers pitcher to begin a season with three or more consecutive outings of six-plus innings with no earned runs since earned run became official in the National League in 1912, a feat Ohtani has now accomplished.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who has overseen Ohtani's historic start to the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“If those guys are getting on base for the top, we're going to score some runs.”

— Dave Roberts, Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers

What’s next

If Ohtani reaches base in Friday's game against the Texas Rangers, he will break Ichiro Suzuki's record for the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player in MLB history.

The takeaway

Shohei Ohtani's historic start to the 2026 season, including his pursuit of Ichiro Suzuki's on-base streak record and his dominant pitching performances, have made him a central figure in the Dodgers' quest for a third straight World Series title. His unparalleled talent as a two-way player continues to captivate baseball fans and cement his legacy as one of the game's all-time greats.