Shohei Ohtani has joined the 40-40 club in Major League Baseball.
In a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Ohtani hit his 40th home run and stole his 40th base of the season. This makes him only the sixth player to achieve this milestone, and he did it faster than anyone else, reaching it in just 129 games. His 40th stolen base came after an infield single in the fourth inning, and his dramatic walk-off grand slam against Colin Poche sealed the deal for a Los Angeles Dodgers win (LA 7, TB 3). It was also his first career walk-off homer. Check out this amazing moment:
This is Ohtani’s third time hitting at least 40 home runs in four years. He hit 46 homers in 2021 and another 44 last year, winning MVP both times . However, this season’s stolen bases are a personal best for him; previously, he had never stolen more than 26 bases in a season.
Ohtani’s Aggressive Base-Stealing
Ohtani seemed to aim for the 40-40 mark from early on. He started with five steals in April, then eight in May and three in June. But by July and August, he ramped up his efforts with twelve steals each month! With some time left this season, fans might wonder if he could be aiming for an even more incredible feat: a historic first-ever 50-50 season.
Here’s how other members of the exclusive club compare:
| Player | Year | HR | SB | Reached Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | 2023 | 41 | 73 | Game 154 |
| Alfonso Soriano | 2006 | 46 | 41 | Game 153 |
| Alex Rodriguez | 1998 | 42 | 46 | _Game153 |
| Barry Bonds 1996 | 42 | 40 | _Game160 | |
| Jose Canseco 1988 | 42 | 40 | _Game154 |
While achieving a spot on this list doesn’t guarantee an MVP award—only Acuña and Canseco won MVPs when they went for it—it certainly boosts Ohtani’s chances. Despite being a full-time designated hitter this year due to elbow surgery rehab (he plans to pitch again by 2025), he’s been leading National League WAR charts all season long.
Fans are likely thrilled about how well he’s doing despite not pitching!
The Dodgers’ win on Friday brought them to a solid record of 77-52 for the season . They’re on a five-game winning streak and hold a four-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in their division.
What do you think about Ohtani’s achievement? Could he go even further?
