The Best Shohei Ohtani Odds, Prop Bets and Predictions

With the All-Star break over and done with, we need to take a deep breath and a bird’s-eye view with the 2024 MLB season. We’re just past the unofficial halfway point, and pennant races will heat up over the next few months.

While injuries to big names have played an unfortunate role in the season to this point, we can be grateful that Shohei Ohtani is healthy…for the most part. Ohtani isn’t pitching this season as he continues to recover from last year’s Tommy John surgery, but at least he’s healthy enough to serve as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ everyday designated hitter.

Ohtani is in the midst of arguably his finest statistical season to date, which is quite an accomplishment considering he’s been the best player on the planet for the last 3 years. Ohtani entered the break as the betting favorite to claim the National League’s MVP Award in his first season with the Dodgers after winning 2 of the last 3 AL MVP awards as a member of the Angels.

Online sportsbooks have a number of player-specific prop bets available as we prepare for the second half of the season. Let’s take time to check out some of the Shohei Ohtani props currently on odds boards and analyze whether the LA slugger is a good option to back from a betting standpoint.

Below, I’ll break down his chances of leading the league in various categories based on the latest MLB odds.

Shohei Ohtani Odds

Shohei Ohtani is not only popular with fans and pundits, but he’s also popular with sports betting sites as well. The following is a list of Ohtani odds and prop bets available to wager on:

Shohei Ohtani Predictions

With an assortment of Ohtani odds and prop bets to choose from, the following is our best Shohei Ohtani predictions:

Shohei Ohtani Regular Season Total HRs

• Over 43.5 Home Runs(-115)
• Under 43.5 Home Runs (-105)

The over/under for Ohtani’s home runs is set at 43.5. Betting the over at -115 suggests confidence in Ohtani’s power to exceed this mark.

As mentioned, Ohtani already has 29 home runs on the season. He smacked 44 last year despite playing only 135 games. He’s topped 34 in each of the last 3 seasons, and he’s well on his way to getting there again this year.

Ohtani is currently on pace to hit about 49 home runs. “On pace for” stats are generally not predictive, but Ohtani is averaging about 0.31 homers per game this season through 94 games. Extrapolate that to a 162-game sample and he’s projected to finish with just shy of 50 on the year.

Needless to say, 49 is quite a bit higher than the 43.5 over/under we’re dealing with for this prop. However, things can go wrong. Ohtani could always suffer an injury at some point, which could throw him well off the pace. Or, an extended slump could derail him at some point.

Given his ability to hit home runs in bunches, the over bet could be enticing if he stays healthy and maintains his current form. The under at -105 might appeal to those concerned about potential injuries or slumps.

Ohtani Bet: Over 43.5 Home Runs (-115)

Most Regular Season Hits (+600)

Ohtani is known for his power-hitting, but could he also lead the league in hits? At +600, the odds suggest he is a solid contender.

Shohei is hitting .316 through his first 94 games as a Dodger. He’s a career .280 hitter at the big-league level, and he topped the .300 threshold (.304) for the first time last season as an Angel.

Ohtani has racked up 117 hits through his first 370 at-bats. That’s the 4th-highest mark in the league behind Bobby Witt Jr. (125), Luis Arraez (122), and Jose Altuve (118). He set a career-high in hits with 160 back in 2022, but he’s on pace to fly past that total in 2024.

Ohtani’s ability to hit for average and power makes him a unique threat. However, competition is stiff. Witt Jr. (+160) and Arraez (+200) are the current frontrunners to finish the season with the most base hits of any player. Given the number of injuries the Dodgers’ lineup is dealing with, there’s also a chance opposing pitchers will start to pitch around Ohtani as we enter the stretch run.

I do like the value on Ohtani to finish as MLB’s hit leader at +600, but this isn’t my favorite wager of the Shohei-specific bets on the board.

Bet: Don't Bet on Ohtani

Most Regular Season RBIs (+1000)

With odds of +1000, Ohtani is an intriguing option to lead the majors RBIs. His ability to hit home runs and his position in the batting order give him plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. However, Ohtani has moved up to the leadoff spot since the injury to Mookie Betts, which naturally limits his RBI opportunities. Ohtani slotted into the No. 2 hole behind Betts when the latter was health earlier in the season.

Ohtani has driven in 69 runs so far this year, which ranks 6th in the league. Aaron Judge already has a 17-RBI lead over Ohtani to lead the majors in that department, while Marcell Ozuna (77), Jose Ramirez (77), Josh Naylor (70), and Alec Bohm (70) also have an edge over the 2-time MVP.

Ohtani’s +1000 odds to lead the league in runs batted in indicate he’ll likely struggle to catch up. Injuries could always pop up and help his chances, but injuries are unpredictable. Judge is on such a prolific pace that he’s a prohibitive favorite at -450 exiting the All-Star break.

There’s no upside in betting on Judge at -450, but I’m also skeptical of Shohei’s chances to catch him in this race with about 3 months left to play.

Bet: Don't Bet on Ohtani

Most Regular Season Home Runs (+700)

Ohtani’s odds of leading the league in home runs stand at +700. Given his power-hitting prowess, these odds are quite appealing.

Judge is once again the favorite at -400, but Ohtani’s ability to hit towering home runs keeps him in the conversation. The Yankees’ slugger leads all hitters in dingers with a whopping 34 already, and there’s an outside chance he’ll come close to matching the career-best 62 big flies he smacked back in 2022.

Ohtani is only 5 off the pace, however, with 29 homers to his credit entering the break. Judge has also played 2 more games than Ohtani to this point. Gunnar Henderson (+1200) has already hit 28 home runs, while Marcell Ozuna (+3300) has the fourth-most with 26.

Dodger Stadium is a hitter-friendly park these days, and Ohtani has adapted quite quickly to his new digs. 16 of those 29 homers have come at Chavez Ravine, which is extra impressive when you consider that Ohtani has taken more at-bats on the road (201) than at home (169) so far this year.

If he remains healthy and maintains his power stroke, Ohtani could challenge for the top spot in this category. He’s not quite as prolific in the power department as Judge is, but you’re betting on unpredictability. I think Ohtani makes for a very strong value here at +700 considering he’s currently 2nd in the league in dongs.

Bet: Small Flier on Ohtani (+700)

Most Regular Season Runs (+320)

With odds of +320, Ohtani is one of the frontrunners to lead the league in runs. His speed – combined with his on-base ability – makes him a constant threat to score.

Ohtani has touched home plate 75 times already this season. He’s never topped 103 runs in a season before, so this is another category in which he’s projected to shatter his previous career-best.

With 75 runs scored on the year, Shohei is tied with Juan Soto and Bobby Witt Jr. for the 2nd-most in baseball. Judge is close behind, with 73. Gunnar Henderson leads the league with 78, and he’s the betting favorite (+300) to finish the league atop the leaderboard. However, his lead is hardly safe with so many games still left to play.

Henderson, Soto, Judge, and Ohtani all play in high-powered offenses, while Witt’s speed makes him a threat to lead the league in runs every year. Ohtani may actually be the fastest player of this group, however, and he’s already stolen 23 bases so far in ’24. Not to sound like a broken record, but Shohei is going to soar past his previous career-high for steals in a season (26) if he stays healthy.

This Shohei Ohtani prop looks like the best value of them all. He’s right in the thick of the race, and I think he’s a glorious value at the +320 odds.

Bet: Yes, Bet on Ohtani (+320)

Most Regular Season Doubles (+2800)

Ohtani’s odds to lead the league in doubles are +2800, so this one could be a bit of a stretch.

While he certainly has the power to hit for extra bases, doubles leaders typically excel in gap power and consistent contact hitting. Ohtani’s average exit velocity (95.5) is 2nd to only Judge among MLB hitters this season, but most of his extra-base hits are flying over the fence. Shohei has hit 23 2-baggers so far this year, which ranks tied for 11th in the majors.

It won’t be easy to make up ground on so many hitters with just a few months left in the season. Alec Bohm (+150) is the league leader in doubles (33) and current betting favorite to finish in that position. Ezequiel Tovar (28) is a fairly distant second, followed by Ozzie Albies (27), Jarren Duran (27), Francisco Lindor (26), and Ohtani’s teammate, Freddie Freeman (25).

Shohei has never hit more than 30 doubles in any previous season. Guess what? He’s going to top that mark this year, but I don’t think it’ll be enough to lead the league by season’s end.

Bet: Don't Bet on Ohtani

Most Regular Season Triples (+4500)

At +4500, Ohtani is a major underdog for leading the league in triples. There is some luck involved with hitting triples, though Ohtani certainly has enough speed to hit his fair share.

Ohtani has tripled 4 times this year. His career-high is 8, which he set in 2021 and matched last year. Triples are generally difficult to predict. Remember back in 2015 when Evan Gattis ranked among the league leaders with 11? He looked like a lumberjack. Not exactly your traditional speed merchant:

Boston’s Jarren Duran leads baseball with 10 triples to his credit, and he’s also the betting favorite to finish at the top of the leaderboard at -115 odds. Duran plays his home games at Fenway Park, which is one of the best parks in the league for hitting triples thanks to all of its weird nooks and crannies. Dodger Stadium has a much more traditional layout, so it’s not nearly as easy to hit triples in LA.

Witt (+125) looks like a decent value bet considering he’s only one triple behind Duran exiting the All-Star break. Corbin Carroll (+650) and Elly De La Cruz (+1200) are appealing long shots, while Ohtani’s odds are way down at +4500. De La Cruz is 4 off the pace, but his elite speed and bold baserunning give him a path to catching Duran.

Ohtani, meanwhile, is a fade for me in this category.

Bet: Don't Bet on Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani to Become a Father

• Yes (+150)
• No (NA)

This prop bet suggests that Shohei Ohtani may become a father in 2024. Given the odds of +150, the bookmakers believe there’s a reasonable chance of this happening, but it’s far from a certainty.

Ohtani is notoriously private about his personal life, making it difficult to gauge the likelihood of fatherhood occurring any time soon. However, being a public figure, any such news would likely be well-documented in the media. 

Ohtani’s personal life was the subject of much speculation before he suddenly revealed his marriage to Japanese basketball star Mamiko Tanaka back in February of 2024. 

The two haven’t been pictured together often since the regular season began, though they were seen together at the Dodgers’ Blue Diamond Gala back in May. This is obviously pure speculation and every pregnancy is different, but Mamiko didn’t exactly look like she was sporting any sort of a baby bump back then.

Of course, that was 3 months ago, so more than enough time has since elapsed to where it’s possible the couple is now expecting a baby. The tricky part of this bet is that the newest Ohtani has to be born by the end of the 2024 calendar year in order for it to cash.

While the odds suggest a decent chance, betting on this prop is essentially a roll of the dice given the lack of public information about Ohtani’s personal life. It’s intriguing, but not something you can analyze with traditional sports metrics.

I’m not sure the +150 odds offer enough upside, so I’d advise staying away from this prop. If we get a similar bet in 2025, we should reconsider.

Bet: Don't Bet on Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani to Dye His Hair Blonde

• Yes (+500)
• No (NA)

Next up is the proposition that Shohei Ohtani will dye his hair blonde in 2024, with odds set at +500.

Ohtani has maintained a fairly traditional and conservative image throughout his career, both in Japan and the United States. He tends to avoid the spotlight for anything other than his on-field performance, and a dramatic change like dyeing his hair blonde would be a significant departure from his usual persona. Ohtani is a very private person, and he’s had the same haircut for the entirety of his adult life.

However, athletes sometimes make bold changes as part of brand deals, media attention, or personal expression. Shohei is successful enough to where he certainly doesn’t need to do bits or pander, but sometimes people want to change things up.

The +500 odds suggest that this is considered an unlikely event but not completely out of the realm of possibility. If Ohtani were to take part in a promotional campaign or undergo a style transformation for a specific reason, this could be a fun bet to consider.

We’ve also seen baseball teams adopt the same hairstyle or grow beards together as a symbol of unity during tournaments or playoff runs. The Dodgers haven’t done anything like that in recent years, though this team has also been plagued by early postseason exits. Could the Dodgers all dye their hair blonde this October in an attempt to reverse the bad juju? Maybe.

At +500, I think there’s value here. Of the props on this list, this is the one that looks like the best value. 

Bet: Yes, Bet on Ohtani (+500)

Shohei Ohtani to Become a US Citizen

• Yes (+1200)
• No (NA)

This prop bet explores the possibility of Shohei Ohtani becoming a US citizen in 2024, with long odds of +1200.

Ohtani has been playing in the United States since 2018 and has become one of Major League Baseball’s most prominent figures. However, the decision to become a US citizen is a major life choice, often driven by personal, legal, or financial considerations. The process of naturalization is also lengthy and complex, involving residency requirements and tests on US civics, among other criteria.

The +1200 odds suggest that this is a highly unlikely scenario for 2024. While Ohtani’s deepening ties to the US could make citizenship an eventual possibility, there’s no strong public indication that he is pursuing this path right away. This prop bet is more speculative, relying on long-term possibilities rather than immediate likelihood.

We have seen star athletes become US citizens over the years, including basketball stars Joel Embiid and Hakeem Olajuwon. In international competitions – like the World Baseball Classic – it’s difficult to imagine Ohtani ever bailing on his native Japan. The Japanese national team is arguably the most decorated in the world, and it doesn’t make much sense for Ohtani to spurn his homeland in order to represent the US at the international level.

While US citizenship is certainly possible at some point, I think there’s a close to zero chance of Ohtani becoming an official American before 2024 comes to a close. The high odds make it a low-risk, high-reward option for those who enjoy betting on life events, but the winning chances are awfully slim.

Bet: Don't Bet on Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani to Be Given the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

• Yes (+1600)
• No (NA)

This prop bet delves into the realm of national honors, proposing that Shohei Ohtani could be awarded the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, Japan’s highest honor, in 2024. The odds are set at +1600.

The vast majority of those who have been given the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum are members of the Imperial Family. A total of 53 Japanese citizens have received the honor, though just 23 were alive at the time it was awarded.

While Ohtani is one of the most famous Japanese people on the planet, this honor is typically reserved for politicians and those who served in the nation’s military. Ohtani is hardly the first Japanese baseball player to have achieved international superstardom. Before Ohtani, Ichiro Suzuki was widely regarded to be the greatest baseball player the country has ever produced. Ichiro, however, hasn’t earned the honor.

The +1600 odds reflect the improbability of this scenario. While it’s possible that Ohtani could receive a different national honor for his contributions to Japanese culture and global recognition, the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum is likely out of reach, at least for now. If Ohtani ever receives the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, it will likely be well after his playing career is over. In other words, he surely won’t earn it by the end of this year.

Bet: Don't Bet on Ohtani

Steven Seagal or Jon Heder to Become Shohei Ohtani’s Translator

• Yes (+5000)
• No (NA)

Steven Seagal is a well-known martial artist and actor with ties to Japan, while Jon Heder is an actor best known for his role in “Napoleon Dynamite.” The idea of either actor becoming Ohtani’s translator seems more like the plot of a Saturday Night Live sketch than a realistic possibility.

Could Shohei be in the market for a translator? It’s possible. After all, his original translator – Ippei Mizuhara – was fired earlier this year after it was revealed that he had been stealing money from Ohtani’s bank account in order to fund his crippling gambling addiction. Since Ippei’s firing and subsequent arrest, Ohtani has relied on Will Ireton to fill the role of interpreter.

The +5000 odds are a testament to the absurdity of this prop. It’s hard to envision a scenario where either Seagal or Heder would take on such a role, especially considering the professionalism required in handling translations for a major sports figure like Ohtani. I also see no reason to believe Shohei would want to hire either of these random people for the gig. This bet seems designed for those who enjoy a wild, unpredictable gamble…or for people who want to flush some money down the toilet for fun.

This is the ultimate long shot. The odds reflect the extremely unlikely nature of this happening, making it more of a fun, novelty bet rather than a serious consideration.

Bet: Don't Bet on Ohtani