Shohei Ohtani made history already this season.
But he is now on track to make even more history before the year is over.
Ohtani joined the exclusive 40-40 club on August 23rd, doing so in dramatic fashion. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar stepped into the batter’s box in the bottom of the ninth inning with the game against the Tampa Bay Rays tied at 3-3, and the bases loaded. Ohtani promptly blasted a grand slam, giving the Dodgers the walk-off win and putting himself into the record books. The blast, combined with his steal of second base earlier in the game, made Ohtani the sixth MLB player to ever have 40 homers and 40 steals in one season.
In addition, Ohtani became the fastest player in MLB history to accomplish the feat, as he joined the club in just his 126th game of the season.
However, Ohtani’s charge into the MLB record books is not done. He followed his home run on Friday night with another blast against the Rays on Saturday, giving him 41 home runs on the season:
While Ohtani was held without a home run on Sunday against the Rays, and did not steal a base, the superstar Ohtani entered Monday, August 26 with 41 home runs and 40 steals, putting him on pace to form a new exclusive club.
The 50-50 club.
No player in MLB history has ever belted 50 home runs and swiped 50 bases in the same season, and if Ohtani can accomplish this feat it would set a new standard for speed and power in baseball. But at the moment Ohtani remains on pace to reach those milestones. With 41 home runs in 128 games played, Ohtani is on pace to hit 52 HRs this season (51.9 home runs to be exact).
Having stolen 40 bases over those 127 games, Ohtani is on pace to steal 51 bases through a 162-game season (50.6 to be exact).
Follow along as we track Ohtani’s pursuit of baseball immortality.
Last game: Versus Tampa Bay Rays (Sunday, August 25)
Zero home runs (41 total), zero stolen bases (40 total)
Pace: 52 home runs, 51 stolen bases
Next game: Versus Baltimore Orioles (Tuesday, August 27)
