Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ superstar, continues to break barriers in Major League Baseball. On August 23 (24th in Japan), Ohtani achieved a historic feat by becoming the sixth player in MLB history, and the first Japanese player, to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season. The achievement was completed in his 126th game, surpassing the previous record held by Alfonso Soriano, who reached the 40-40 mark in 147 games in 2006.
In the fourth inning, he hit an infield single and then stole his 40th base of the season. The real climax came in the ninth inning, when with the bases loaded and the score tied, Ohtani faced the first pitch, a slider, and crushed it towards right-center field, sending the ball into the stands for a walk-off grand slam. The ball traveled 389 feet at an exit velocity of 105.1 mph (168.9 km/h), sealing a dramatic 7-3 victory over the Rays at Dodger Stadium.
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This performance places Ohtani in the elite of baseball history, as only six players have reached the 40-40 club. With his 40th home run in the Dodgers’ 129th game of the season, Ohtani not only secured his place in this exclusive club but is also on his way to surpassing his personal record of 46 home runs set in 2021. Additionally, he becomes the first Japanese player to achieve the 30-30 feat and the second in Dodgers history to reach 35-35. Now, the expectation is whether he can achieve the unprecedented 50-40.
Despite a challenging August, where his batting average dropped to .190, Ohtani has continued to produce power at the plate. This was his eighth home run in 20 games during the month, and his season total now puts him on track to surpass 50 home runs, which could also set another personal and franchise record. Last season, Ohtani suffered an injury towards the end but still managed to hit 44 home runs, earning him the home run leader title, the first for an Asian player. This year, with the Dodgers in the playoff race, Ohtani remains a key piece both offensively and in the history he is writing, in a season that is already shaping up to be one of the most memorable in MLB.
