It seems like there’s nothing on Earth that Shohei Ohtani can’t do, particularly on a baseball diamond.
OK, we know he can’t pitch this season, as he’s recovering from a 2023 elbow injury. But he certainly can hit, and this year, he has shown he can run like never before.
He has won two unanimous MVP awards and in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers he has added another achievement to an already outstanding seven-year career. The two-way superstar became the sixth player in MLB history to join the prestigious 40 home runs, 40 stolen bases club in the Dodgers’ 7-3 victory to the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. He achieved the milestone in dramatic fashion, smashing a walk-off grand slam that traveled 414 feet to center field off the first pitch he saw from Rays reliever Colin Poche.
In an already legendary career, Friday’s accomplishments and fireworks stood out.
“One of my top memorable moments and I hope that I can do more [to make] memorable moments,” Ohtani told reporters, via an interpreter, in the clubhouse after a wild on-field celebration.
Ohtani joins Ronald Acuña Jr., Alfonso Soriano, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco as the only players to accomplish the illustrious feat. Until Acuña’s 40-70 season en route to winning the 2023 NL MVP award, the 40-40 feat hadn’t been done in 17 years.
In this elite group, no one has done it faster than Ohtani, who reached the rarified air in 126 games. We still have a week left in August. (Soriano held the previous fastest 40-40 distinction at 147 games.)
“Honestly really happy, but most importantly really happy we were able to win today. I’m extremely honored that I’ve been part of this history,” Ohtani said shortly after getting doused with water at home plate by his celebrating teammates.
His previous career high in stolen bases happened in 2021, when he swiped 26 bases with the Los Angeles Angels. He also hit a career-high 46 home runs that season in which he won his first league MVP.
Ohtani hit the 40-stolen base mark in the bottom of the fourth inning after reaching base on an infield single. He took second without a throw from Rays catcher Rob Brantly.
In a season devoted exclusively to playing as a designated hitter, Ohtani, for the first time in his career, is maximizing the use of speed as a weapon in addition to his light-tower power that he’s displayed since his 2018 MLB arrival.
“He’s doing his homework on opposing pitchers,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters of…