Byron Buxton Hits Leadoff Bomb vs Shohei Ohtani… Who Quickly Responds

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Byron Buxton - Minnesota Twins
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Byron Buxton spent his time back in Georgia last week hitting massive home runs in the 2025 Home Run Derby, getting a huge late-game hit to start an American League comeback and talking about his commitment to being a member of the Minnesota Twins for the remainder of his MLB career.

So on Monday night, when Buck came to the plate in Los Angeles, to leadoff game one vs the Dodgers and phenom pitcher/DH Shohei Ohtani, fireworks were in the West Coast forecast.

Byron Buxton takes Shohei Ohtani deep to leadoff MN Twins vs LA Dodgers series

And sure enough, Ohtani — who just returned to the pitching mound a couple of weeks ago and entered Monday with just 9 innings (5 starts) pitched this season — hung a breaking ball at Buxton’s belt… a bad idea for opposing pitchers this season.

Like he has so many times already this summer, the Baxley, GA native turned on the 3x MVP‘s mistake and took it 350 ft into the left field stands.

Related: Dodgers, Twins in Trade Talks Over Prized Bullpen Assets

Byron Buxton found his way to the 2025 All-Star roster by hitting .289 with a .925 OPS in 78 first half games. And to nobody’s surprise, he’s started the second half just as hot.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli decided to give his 31-year-old superstar a rest in game three of this weekend’s series vs the Colorado Rockies, but in games one and two, he went 3-for-10 with a .900 OPS.

While Shohei Ohtani may still be working out the kinks, after recovering from Tommy John surgery, but until Buxton took him deep, he hadn’t shown it. Prior to that HR, Ohtani had allowed just 5 hits (0 extra base hits) and only 1 earned run in his 9 innings pitched.

Ohtani returns the favor in bottom of the 1st inning

Of course, in the back-half of the 1st inning (with a runner on), Ohtani returned the favor by hitting a no-doubt home run to straight away center field. That’s what makes him an MVP candidate every season. He is the only guy in the league who you can beat on the mound (rarely), only to have him pay you back from the batter’s box.

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