It’s just a rematch of last year’s World Series—how exciting can it really be?
Said absolutely no one ever.
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and four-time All-Star Shohei Ohtani made Major League Baseball history during Friday’s 8-5 win for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It was the first time that both reigning Most Valuable Players hit a home run in the same inning. Both Judge and Ohtani went deep in the first — showing they still have plenty of gas in the tank when it comes to writing even more MLB history.
Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani Show Why They Are MVPs
Judge hit his home run first, launching his 19th of the season — a solo blast off Tony Gonsolin. Ohtani then responded with his 21st of the year off Max Fried’s first pitch.
“I feel like he was copying me,” Judge said to MLB.com. “He’s impressive. He’s one of the best players in the game for a reason; what he can do in the box, on the basepaths, once he gets back on the mound — it’s special.”
Tonight marks the first time in MLB history both reigning MVPs homered in the first inning of the same game.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 31, 2025
The judge also went on to say that to be the best, you have to play against the best.
“I like playing against the best,” Judge said. “You want to play against the best teams, the best players. Ohtani is definitely one of the best players in the game, and he has been for a long time. He’s off to another fantastic start this season.”
Judge’s blast came on an 89.7 mph four-seamer, which he turned around at 113 mph, slugging a Statcast-projected 446-foot drive. He now has five career homers at Dodger Stadium in six regular-season games.
On the flip side, Ohtani belted his off a 93.7 mph Fried sinker, coming off his bat at 105.5 mph and traveling a Statcast-projected 417 feet.
“I think both teams started on a really good note,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “I really thought it was important to be able to score another run in that situation, knowing that momentum is really important in a game like today.”
The comparison between Judge and Ohtani has been a hot topic in the baseball community for good reason. Since April 30, Judge (1.237 OPS) and Ohtani (1.186) rank No. 1 and 2 among players with at least 75 plate appearances. They are also first and second in the Majors in total bases, with each on pace for more than 400.
“We love superstars,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And to start the game off with Judge hitting a homer and Shohei answering in the bottom half was pretty exciting for everyone.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone added that Judge and Ohtani’s display proved MLB stars know how to keep fans entertained.
“They were kind of similar home runs … right out of the gate, a couple of big haymakers. You certainly marvel at some of the players on this field tonight. There’s a number of MVPs and All-Stars, great players. Some of the stars really showed tonight.”