Shohei Ohtani: Baseball’s Fastest 40-40 Player on Track for 50-50 Club

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani continues to etch his name into baseball history this season.

The dynamic Japanese player showcased his talent Friday night by hitting a two-out grand slam in the ninth inning, marking his 40th home run of the year. Earlier in the game, he achieved his 40th stolen base, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Ohtani reached this remarkable milestone in just 126 games, making it the fastest accomplishment of its kind in Major League Baseball history. He becomes the sixth player in history to achieve 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season, and notably, the first player to do so while wearing a Dodgers uniform.

“It’s really more about the winning,” Ohtani expressed through an interpreter. “The record is a part of the process, but the most important thing is winning the game.”

As it stands, no player has hit 50 home runs and stolen 50 bases in a single season, but with just over a month left in the regular season and the Dodgers holding a lead in the NL West, Ohtani has a golden opportunity to add to his impressive track record.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts underscored this potential: “I think it’s possible. I hope he continues to play to win baseball games and takes quality at-bats.”

Ohtani broke the previous record that was held by Alfonso Soriano, who reached the feat in Game 148 of the 2006 season with the Washington Nationals, when Soriano hit 46 home runs and stole 41 bases.

Ohtani now joins an elite group that includes Ronald Acuña Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, and Jose Canseco in the exclusive 40-40 club. Acuña set the stolen base record last year with 73, alongside his 41 home runs.

This grand slam marked not only a significant milestone but also Ohtani’s first walk-off homer and third career grand slam. “It’s just storybook — 40-40 on the same night,” Roberts commented, adding that the dramatic win was something he would remember for years to come.

This is Ohtani’s third season where he has hit 40 or more homers, having accomplished the same feat previously with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 and 2023.

In comparison, New York Yankees phenom Aaron Judge currently leads the majors with 49 home runs and is a strong contender for the American League MVP award. Meanwhile, Ohtani is projected to be a leading candidate for the National League MVP.

Ohtani’s pivotal 389-foot homer broke a 3-3 tie. Rays center fielder Jose Siri made an effort to catch the ball but ultimately saw it bounce back onto the field. Siri then tossed it into the stands, meaning Ohtani did not get to keep the memorable ball, according to his interpreter, Will Ireton.

Following his homer, Ohtani received a warm standing ovation from the crowd of 45,556. His teammates Miguel Rojas and Teoscar Hernández celebrated him by dousing him with water.

“It means a tremendous amount for me to be able to do this in front of the home crowd,” Ohtani remarked.

Earlier in the game, Ohtani reached base with an infield single at the start of the fourth inning, later stealing second while teammate Freddie Freeman was batting. He is the first Dodgers player to reach 40 stolen bases in a season since Dee Gordon in 2014, who had a total of 64 stolen bases that year.

During his six seasons with the Angels, Ohtani did not reach the postseason. However, he now finds himself in the thick of a pennant race with the Dodgers, who lead the NL West. “The number one goal is to get to the postseason and win the World Series,” he declared.